As per the Bishop of the Bismarck Diocese:  All funerals are to be private not public, that is to say, for the immediate family ONLY and for the priest or deacon who is the celebrant.  The rite of Christian Funerals within or outside of mass may be used.  There is to be NO wake/vigil observed the day before of day of the funeral.  No luncheon or dinner is permitted in the church hall after the funeral.

Patrick "Pat" Carpentier, 75, took his last ride looking for deer and pheasants on Saturday March 14, 2020. Cremation will take place and a Private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday, March 21, 2020 at St. Edwin's Catholic Church, Washburn. Burial will take place with immediate family at a later date.

Pat was born and raised, along with his 3 brothers and 4 sisters, on the family farm east of Portal, ND. He graduated from Portal High School (1963) and attended Bottineau College and NDSU at Fargo, graduating with a Bachelor's of Animal Science (1967). He was recruited as a wrestler for Bottineau College, having never wrestled in high school, and was cheered on as the "Jolly Green Giant." Imagine Pat wearing green tights!

Pat married his soul mate, Diane Bird on March 19, 1966. They lived in Fargo, Minot, and Cooperstown before making their forever home in Washburn, ND in 1976. They were blessed with 3 fabulous children, Kevin, Michele, and Bradley. Pat worked for NDSU extension for 44 years until he retired in 2011. Pat really loved working with kids and spent endless hours at the Western 4-H camp, helping with horse camp, livestock camp, judging teams, and many other activities at the camp. He also served on numerous boards and organizations in McLean County and the State of ND, including Mclean County Soil Conservation, Masonic Temple, ND Horse Racing Commission, Mclean County Fair Board, McLean County Weed Board, St Edwin's Church, Washburn's Lodge #122, and Order of the El Zagel Shrine.

You could take the boy off the farm, but not the farm out of the boy. Pat loved their farm east of town for all the wildlife, and all the animals he raised on the farm at one time or another. He and his wife Diane loved everything about horses, and racing Quarter horses and Thoroughbreds on tracks in ND, SD, and Canada were especially enjoyed. Pat had a real love for the sport and also owning and training horses.

The apple of his eye was his two grandchildren Lauryn and Matthew. He enjoyed watching all their events and games, teaching them how to hunt and ride horses. I don't think they ever heard the word "no" from Papa. He also had a special place in his heart for his great grandchildren Lydia and Mesa, and always wished he had more time to teach them to hunt and ride horse.

Pat loved to cook and hunt. Deer hunting was a better holiday than Christmas to him. He will forever be remembered for his grilling talents, Baked beans, and special seasoning (Lauryn is still not sharing the recipe). Pat loved to be around people, always with a story to share or shenanigans to pull. He was a friend to many and prided himself on having friends in low places. He never needed to have the best and was willing to do anything for anyone.

He is survived by Diane, his wife of 54 years; his daughter Michele (Steve) Leidholm; grandchildren Lauryn and Matthew Leidholm; step granddaughter and family, Alisha and Scott Ritter, Lydia and Mesa of Bismarck and son, Bradley of Fargo; his brother, Pierre (Susie) Carpentier of Portal, ND and his sister, Jean McCall of Reno, Nevada and numerous nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Emery and Blanche Carpentier, father and mother in-law, Art and Gudrun Bird, his brothers, Dave and Jerry, his sisters, Marcie Wilkes, Mary Downie, and Vonnie McCall, his son, Kevin and numerous brother and sister in laws, nephews and nieces.

One the greatest honors of Pat's life was when the Western 4H Foundation organized a fundraiser for a portable grill with his name on it to be used in his honor. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Western 4H camp or a personal preferred charity.

A special thank you to Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center and CHI St Alexius Health for the excellent care they provided.