Patricia “Patty” Ann Van Aartsen, age 67, passed away peacefully at Sanford Hospital on Sunday, October 12, surrounded by her family. A Family Directed Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, October 17, 2025, at Community Church, 6800 E 41st Street, Sioux Falls. The service will be held at 11am with lunch to follow. Visitation hosted by the family, will be held at the church prior to the service at 10am. The service can also be viewed online at https://communityrc.org/watch-live
Patty was born to Richard Lerdal and Joyce (Heinemann) Lerdal on January 22, 1958, in Dell Rapids, SD. Patty never met a stranger. She was easy to talk with and truly cared about others. Her loyalty to her friends began at an early age. Patty grew up in Sioux Falls, SD, and graduated from Lincoln High School. She attended the University of South Dakota. Patty’s career path included a brief time working at John Morrell where she again made many friends. She also worked as a bookkeeper before beginning her long career with the City of Sioux Falls Health Department. The relationships she built with her colleagues at the Health Department were special to her throughout her life. After retiring from the Health Department, Patty began a fun job working at Macy’s. She developed a special interest and expertise in fine jewelry, which was appreciated by her customers. She also enjoyed purchasing a few pretty things for herself and her loved ones. Patty also loved the arts, particularly folk music and raku pottery. She shared fond memories of visits to music festivals (particularly those that didn’t involve camping), concerts, and art festivals.
Patty’s true love and joy was her family. Patty and her husband, Steve, got married on August 30, 1997. They loved spending time together. They were inseparable. They particularly enjoyed travel, time with friends, and great dining. They also recently developed a love of sitting together in their sunroom, watching the birds or some good TV together. Patty became a mom when her first son, Luke, was born and motherhood became her primary focus and most fulfilling lifetime role. When Patty and Steve got married, she became an incredible stepmom to Mike and Heather. Patty’s favorite person to talk with on the phone, Nora, was born the next year. Anyone who has spoken with Patty in the last twenty years knows who she likes to talk about most, her grandkids. Amelia, Oliver, Addison, and Mickila are Steve and Patty’s grandkids and the beneficiaries of Patty’s shopping hobby. Patty could find a bargain anywhere and was an exceptional gift giver, knowing just what would warm someone’s heart or make them smile.
Patty experienced chronic pain, which limited her ability to do many of her favorite activities, but she spent her time loving others, even when she wasn’t able to attend events in person. Patty spent much of the last few years of her life caring for her mother and was thankful for the precious gift of that time with her sweet mom.
Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Steve; her children, Heather (Jaron) DeWit, Michael Van Aartsen, Luke (Sandra) Lerdal, and Nora (Everett) Oldenburg; her grandchildren, Amelia Lerdal, Oliver Lerdal, Addison DeWit, and Mickila DeWit. Patty was also very close to her siblings: Debra Lerdal and her husband, Peter Hoeger, Donald Lerdal and his wife, Darla Drew, Michael Lerdal and his wife, Apidee Julprapa, and Peter Lerdal and his wife, Jill. Patty also loved her nieces and nephews, of which she had many. She enjoyed time with other family members and close friends as well. Patty was preceded in death by her parents.
Celebrate a life with the whole community in The Dakota Scout. Contact obits@thedakotascout.com to have your loved one remembered today.