PATTY LOU HARPER March 21, 1930 – Nov. 3, 2022
Patty Lou Harper passed away peacefully Nov. 3, 2022 at the age of 92 in Albuquerque, N.M.
She was born March 21, 1930, in Hebron, Nebraska to Fred and Mabel Lugenbeel.
Patty grew up in Corvallis, Oregon after her family relocated there when she was a young child. As a teenager, she worked in the kitchen at her parents’ restaurant and bar. After graduating from Corvallis High School, she enrolled at Oregon State University, where she met her future husband Paul Harper.
Patty and Paul were married Dec. 17, 1948. After graduating from Oregon State, Paul accepted employment at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. In 1950, Patty, Paul, and their one-year-old son Ron moved to “The Hill” in New Mexico. Patty and Paul remained in Los Alamos for over thirty years. During that time, they had three more sons: Bryce, Dana, and Bret.
After retirement, Patty and Paul moved to the cabin that the family built in the early 1960s near Chama, NM. They lived there year round for 22 years and traveled extensively across North America in their Jimmy and trailer. In 2005, they purchased a townhome in Albuquerque where they could live during the colder months before returning each year to live at the cabin during the warmer part of the year.
Patty was a loving and caring mother. She was very involved in her children’s activities including teaching catechism classes and being a cub scout den mother. Patty was a voracious reader, duplicate bridge champion, and a formidable horseshoe pitcher. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting for her family and donated much of her work to charitable organizations. Patty will be greatly missed by family and friends.
Patty was preceded in death by Paul (her husband of almost 70 years), three of four siblings, and one great-grandson, Charlie Summers. She is survived by her sons Ron and his wife Sue of Sandia Park; Bryce of Albuquerque; Dana and his wife Vivian of Boise, Idaho; and Bret and his wife Maggie of Louisville, Colorado.
Patty leaves seven grandchildren: Ron Harper Jr and wife Elisa; Sasha Summers and husband Dan; Tammy Smith and husband Greg; Bryce Paul Harper; Breanne Bateman and husband Matt; Rebecca Harper; and Emmalee Harper. She also leaves eleven great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A short service will be held at 11 a.m., Dec. 2, at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity.