Patricia Bratnober Saunders

Patricia Bratnober Saunders, a beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, artist, and community leader, passed away peacefully on December 16, 2024, at the age of 99. The cause of death was dementia. She was born Patricia Genevieve Ray on January 30, 1925, in Duluth, Minnesota, to parents Philip Lacy Ray and Bernice Steuerwald Ray. She lived a remarkable life guided by her unwavering dedication to family, art, and making her community a better place for all.

Patricia received her K-12 education at the Summit School in St. Paul, MN. She pursued higher education at Wellesley College and then the Parsons School of Art and Design in New York City. Later in life she studied at the Instituto Allende in San Miguel, Mexico, earning a Master of Fine Arts (MFA).

In 1948, Patricia married Harry Lewis Bratnober Jr. in St. Paul. Together, they raised their four children-Philip, John, Jane, and Sarah-infusing their home with music, a love of foreign languages and cultures, skiing, tennis, hockey, and good humor. Patricia was wholeheartedly dedicated to encouraging her children's interests, instilling her values, and exposing them to a diverse range of experiences and people. This devotion continued to be felt by her family long after the untimely passing of Harry in 1978.

In 1999, Patricia married Walter (Barney) Saunders in Minneapolis. She embraced Barney's children-Sallie, Arthur, John, and Susan-and grandchildren. She and Barney loved getting their two sets of children together, and Patricia especially enjoyed spending time at Love Lake with the Saunders clan.

Patricia began her artistic career as a portrait artist, but she later expanded her creativity to explore various styles and mediums, with a special love for expressive watercolor painting. She said "Painting, for me, is a way of spreading out the soul to have a look at it." Her works were exhibited at well-known Minnesota venues, including the Minnesota Museum of Art, the Benedicta Art Center, The Forum Gallery, First Bank and the WARM Gallery. In New York City she showed at the Pindar Gallery and the Women's Interart Center. Her paintings are to be found in numerous collections, including 3M, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the Tweed Museum in Duluth. Throughout her career, she received numerous accolades, including the National Watercolor Society's prestigious Purchase Award and first place honors, painting division, in the Minnesota State Fair.

Patricia's passion for the arts did not stop at her own creations. She actively promoted the arts in Minnesota, founding the Southwest Minnesota Arts and Humanities Council (SMAHC) in the 1970s-while she and Harry lived in Marshall, MN-and serving as its first president. Her efforts led to significant changes in the arts landscape and were an inspiration for the Minnesota State Legislature in establishing seven regional arts councils modeled on SMAHC.

Learning and teaching were integral to Patricia's life as an artist. She treasured studying painting under American artist Edna Imm. She made lifelong friends with fellow artists with whom she retreated annually for painting on Madeline Island. Evolving gradually into an art teacher herself, she taught in the University of Minnesota's Split Rock program and traveled as Painting Consultant and teacher for Seminars International, Chicago, on tours of Yugoslavia, Portugal and Spain, Italy, and Greece.

Throughout her life, Patricia remained an active member of various arts and community organizations. As a member, mentor, and exhibition curator for the Women's Arts Registry of Minnesota (WARM) in the 1970s and 80s, she helped raise the stature of women artists by exposing their works to the public. During the same period, she served on the boards of the Jerome Foundation, the Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and the Minneapolis Institute of Art, dedicating years to the betterment of the arts community.

Patricia's commitment to making the world a more just and peaceful place was as profound as her love for her family and art. In the 1960s, she made history as the first woman ever elected to the St. Paul Public School Board. Also during the '60s, she was instrumental in founding Parents for Integrated Education (PIE) with Black and white St. Paul parents, and she served as its first president. PIE initiated a groundbreaking voluntary busing program in St. Paul, the first of its kind in the United States. For her dedication and leadership, Patricia was honored by the National Council of Christians and Jews. In the 1990s, she served on the board of the Jungle Theater and also chaired it in 1993. She collaborated extensively with the Whittier Alliance in Minneapolis, recruiting reading tutors from her church and enhancing arts education in the Whittier International Elementary School. In her later years, she focused her efforts on ending homelessness by dedicating proceeds from her art sales to the cause.

Patricia is preceded in death by her loving husbands, Harry L. Bratnober Jr. and W.B. Saunders; her sister, Georgia Ray Lindeke; and her son, John Powers Bratnober. She is survived by her children, Philip Ray Bratnober, Jane Bratnober Ransom, and Sarah Genevieve Bratnober; her son-in-law, John Swift Ransom; her cherished grandchildren, Tomas Alejandro Bratnober, John Powers Bratnober Jr., Mark Fitzhugh Ransom, and Caro Virginia Bratnober; and her great grandchildren Alejandro Yugi Bratnober, Diego Noah Bratnober, and Maya Miyu Bratnober.

Patricia Bratnober Saunders leaves behind a legacy of creativity, compassion, and commitment to making the world a better place. Her spirit will live on through her family, her art, and the countless lives she touched throughout her extraordinary life. As we celebrate Patricia, we remember a woman who embraced love, diversity, and the transformative power of art, and who made a profound difference in her family, her community, and beyond.

A memorial service celebrating Patricia's life will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Sat., June 14 at Unity Church-Unitarian at 733 Portland Ave., St. Paul, MN.

In lieu of flowers, Patricia's family suggests memorial donations to the Jungle Theater and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design Scholarship Fund.