Patricia (Pat) Louise (Mason) Kaas

May 26, 1950 ~ August 11, 2016

Patricia (Pat) Kaas, 66, of Brandon, SD died Thursday, August 11, 2016, at her home following health issues.

Memorial Services and Celebration of life will be Friday, August 19, 2016 at 6pm at Heartland Funeral Home, Brandon, with family visitation beginning at 4:30pm.

Patricia (Pat) Louise Kaas (Mason) was born to Stella Eloise Mason and George Ruark in Huron, SD on May 26, 1950. They had nine children and Pat was the youngest. Both of her parents passed away by time she was 2 yrs old. She was then adopted by her mom’s brother, Robert (Bob) Mason and his wife Ann (DeWald). They raised her in their home in Highmore, SD and eventually had three more children of their own.

After graduating from Highmore High School, she married Ken Vanorny on January, 25, 1969. He joined the air force, which allowed them to make their home in various locations throughout their years together including Texas, Japan, the Philippines, Utah and South Dakota. They had three children, Ken Jr (Butch), Tony and Christy. They eventually settled down in Milbank, SD in 1976. Soon after, Ken’s younger sister Theresa came to live with them until she was 22. In 1988, Pat graduated from Watertown VoTech as a Human Health Services Technician. In April 1988, she married Alvin Kaas and moved to Fairbury, NE. After her mother became ill, they moved back to South Dakota. Alvin became ill and passed away in November 2000. Eventually Pat moved to Brandon, SD to be closer to her son, Butch. She passed away in her home on August 10, 2016.

Her hobbies included sewing, cooking, baking and making people laugh. Pat was loved by everyone who met her. She had a big personality that made others smile. In her life, she tried to help as many people as she could. She had a spark for life and made the most of every situation no matter what life threw at her.

She is survived by her children, Ken (Butch) Vanorny, Jr and his wife, Jane, Tony Vanorny and his wife, Trina, Christy Stefanick and her husband, Joe; her grandchildren, Abigail, Kenna and Tyler Vanorny, Jackson Vanorny, CeCe Hamrick, Katie and Megan Stefanick and Dolly, as well as her siblings, Tom Ruark, Jerry Hughes, Connie Mason and Mike Mason.

She is preceded in death by her birth parents, Stella and George Ruark, her adoptive parents, Bob and Ann Mason, her siblings LeRoy Ruark, Monna Ruark, Donna Gunderson, Marilyn Ruark, David Koons, Richard Hall and Robert Ruark.

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