Erna Patterson Dulley

CHARLESTON, IL ? Erna Rose Patterson Dulley, age 85 of Charleston and formerly of Calimesa, California, and St. Charles Minnesota passed away on Thursday, September 2 (2004) at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Charleston. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the Services. Visitation will also be held at Hoff Funeral Home ?St. Charles Chapel Thursday evening (September 9) from 6:00 ? 8:00 with Services at 11:00 a.m. on Friday (September 10) at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, also in St. Charles. The Rev. Michael Hart will officiate. Interment will follow in Hillside Cemetery, St. Charles. Erna was born March 22, 1919 in Stockton, Minnesota the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Mueller) Prigge. She married John (Jack) Patterson in January of 1945 in Silo, Minnesota. She later married Ken Dulley on October 16, 1982 in Rochester, Minnesota. She is survived by her loving husband Ken; three daughters, Gail Bezler and her fianc?, Dave Moore of Mattoon, Illinois, Bonnie Patterson of Naples, Florida and Joan Spence and her husband David of Effingham, Illinois; four grandchildren, Steve Bezler and his wife Stephanie of Capell, Texas, Jon Bezler of Mattoon, Zachary Spence and Jacqueline Spence of Effingham; three great grandchildren, Lauren Bezler, Anna Bezler and Emilie Bezler, all of Capell; three stepchildren, Faye Barnhardt of Wellington, Ohio, Diana Quirk and her husband Tom of Chino, California, Pam Hildebrandt and her husband Allen of Fullerton, California; eight step grandchildren; eight step great grandchildren; and one sister, Freida Fischer of Calimesa, California. She was preceded by her parents; her first husband, Jack who passed away August 2, 1968; two sisters; five brothers; and a stepson, Larry Dulley. Since moving to Charleston, Erna has been a faithful member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. While in California she was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Yucaipa and was a thirty-two year member of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in St. Charles, Minnesota. She also held membership in the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary in St. Charles for thirty plus years. Erna was a graduate of Lewiston High School in Lewiston, Minnesota and served as secretary and bookkeeper for Patterson Quarries, a business that she and Jack owned and operated. Following the birth of her children, Erna assumed the role of full time homemaker and Mom. Erna enjoyed music ? she liked to sing and for many years sang with a quartet at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church. But she enjoyed nothing more than sitting down and playing her organ. She also enjoyed traveling (especially with Ken), was very style conscious in her dress ? looking nice was important, flower gardening (especially her rose garden while in California) and walking ? if you were going to walk with Erna , be ready and fit, because she walked fast and far. She was family oriented and an enjoyable evening would be gathering with family to share a meal and a good card game. She gave her love to her family unconditionally and always considered it a blessing to be a thirty eight year cancer survivor.