SUN VALLEY, NV - Patrick (Pat) Gene Denke was met by the Lord after a brief battle with leukemia on November 6, 2023. His wife Maggie, daughter Serena, and granddaughter Patience were by his side. His faith in the Lord, service to others, being a friend to all he met, and acceptance of what life gives are his legacy to this world.

Patrick was born in Quinn, SD August 31, 1951 to LeRoy and Dorothy (Kjerstad) Denke. The family primarily lived in Rapid City while he was a boy, with a short time spent in San Manuel, AZ. His high school years were spent outside Hill City, SD across from the sawmill at the small campground his parents owned. He was a graduate of Hill City High School and attended classes at Black Hills Teaching College, now Black Hills State University.

Pat started his career working as a DJ and on air personality at KOTA in the early 70's. He was on the air overnight when the Flood of 1972 occurred and shared it was one of the most memorable nights of his life. He worked at Pete Lien & Sons for 32 and a half years then retired and followed his daughter Serena to Reno, NV in 2006.

Patrick was married to Margaret Colleen Boker on September 15, 1973 and had two daughters and a granddaughter. He was widowed in 2006 and on July 12, 2007 married Maggie Derfler, gaining two sons and three grandsons. He spent his retirement years enjoying road trips around Reno, participating in activities at his church, and enjoying time spent with his family and friends.

Pat was a wonderful father. He believed in the importance of reading to his children and being a present dad. Patrick was active in PTA when his daughters were in school. He attended their activities, be it athletic, music, or Girl Scouts, and became a Girl Scout troop leader when they needed a volunteer. His daughter's friends always looked forward to spending time with him and he enjoyed driving the girls around, eating at Taco Johns or getting coffee at Perkins, listening to their challenges and offering advice when they were in need. In 1991, a friend of his daughters needed a place to stay and he welcomed her, caring for her as another daughter. Pat was a gentle soul and he had several dogs and cats throughout his life that were also very special to him.

Patrick was a blood donation advocate contributing over 50 gallons of whole blood and platelets throughout his lifetime. He was very thoughtful and never forgot to send a card for a birthday or anniversary and oftentimes made a personal call. He enjoyed writing for the Pete Lien & Sons employee publication in his free time and rewriting and organizing his various family history publications. Patrick enjoyed talking to members of his extended families and helping them with anything they needed. He lived to serve others and positively impacted anyone he came into contact with. He made time to listen and pray with everyone and was available day or night to help others.

Pat loved the Lord. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church and a Sunday School teacher while living in Rapid City. After his move to Reno, he joined the Home Church of the Nazarene. He loved to attend Bible study and made several good friends in his Life Group including: Mike and Linda McDaniel, Mike and Laura Dresbach, Jeannie Adams, Mike and Yvonne Regas, Bill and Joan Kohl, Gerald and Linda Bailie, Del Lewis, and Nicole and Kevin Pullman. Other church friends included: Pastor Carlos Garcia, Dan and Melody Anderson, Mike and Kathy Maciosek, Gary Gavica, and Min Kim-Allen. Many of these friends provided rides and assistance throughout his chemotherapy treatment for lymphoma this year.

Patrick met a special friend, Agnes DeRaad, while co-leading a Bible study with her at the Home church. He always told his daughters, she was, "Like a big sister to me." He greatly appreciated her accompanying him to doctor appointments and her friendship, particularly this year, with his health issues.

Patrick is survived by his wife, Maggie Denke, Sun Valley, NV; brothers, Mike (LuAnn) Denke, Rapid City, SD, Mark (Jan) Denke, Helena, MT and Paul Denke, Rapid City, SD; sister, LeAnn (Rex) King, Rapid City, SD; brother-in-Law, Wayne Baker, Silver Peak, NV and sister-in-law, Gloria Baker, Silver Peak NV; daughters, Nicholle (Adam) Pershing, Tucson, AZ and Serena (Nate) Schmitz, Omaha, NE; granddaughter, Patience Pelkey, Omaha, NE; sons, Albert (Sherry) Kelmar, Knoxville, TN and Jeff Kelmar, Stead, NV; grandsons, Shawn (Logan) Gustafson, Elko, NV, Daniel Zukovsky, Sparks, NV, and Jared Kelmar, Stead, NV. And his great-grandson, James Michael Gustafson of Elko, NV.

Funeral services will be held at Osheim & Schmidt on Friday, November 24, 2023, with visitation starting at 10:00 a.m., service at 11:00 a.m., and interment immediately following at Pine Lawn Memorial Park. A reception will be held at Atonement Lutheran Church 602 Auburn Drive, Rapid City following interment.

A memorial service will be held in Sparks, NV in Spring/Summer of 2024 to celebrate Patrick's life in his adopted hometown. Sympathy cards can be sent to Maggie Denke, 67 Franks Lane, Sun Valley, NV 89433.