Patricia Ann Feit

Patricia Ann Steffenson Feit

Patricia (Pat) Feit, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend passed away peacefully on August 22, 2019, at age 81. She was a magnificent woman who made a profound impact on everyone who met her. She will always be remembered for her extraordinary talents and her sharp sense of humor, but most of all, her faith in Jesus and the love she radiated to those around her.

Pat was born in Walker, Minnesota and later grew up in Park Rapids and West St. Paul with her sisters, Koko and Tony.  The three sisters were very close; their favorite times were when they harmonized together, and they loved to poke fun and laugh together.

Pat graduated from St. Olaf College, where she was a soloist in the famed St. Olaf College Choir under the direction of Olaf Christiansen. She received her Master's degree in Music Education from Hamline University and taught a graduate-level course called The VoiceCare Network at St. John’s University for 23 years.

She met Rob Feit, a violist in the Minnesota Orchestra when they were both performing at Schieks Café in Minneapolis.  Their romance blossomed, and they married in 1963 during a blizzard that made Rob very late to the wedding.  Nevertheless, they were married for over 46 years.  Both Pat and Rob were incredibly talented, and their romance was evident to everyone; she was very proud of him, and he called her his “showgirl.”

Pat was a popular entertainer during the ’60s and ’70s, frequently appearing on Twin Cities television and performing on the night club circuit across the United States. After a full-time performance career singing and playing piano, Pat spent 24 years teaching. She had a strong passion and was devoted to her students. To Pat, her job was more than just teaching music. It was teaching life lessons.

She spent 14 years teaching and developing a nationally recognized high school choral program in Princeton, Minnesota. After that, she was the choral director in Elk River, Minnesota and continued teaching for ten more years until her retirement in 2002. 

Retirement didn’t slow Pat down; she continued to do clinics and judge competitions for singers and choirs. She taught music in her home, composed music for others, wrote “Making Jesus Known,” was very active in her church and continued to perform music “gigs.” She loved her time with her Life Together group from Central Lutheran Church as well as spending time with her cherished family, especially her grandchildren.

Pat was preceded in death by husband of 46 years, Rob Feit. She is survived by children Patrick (Bridgett) Feit and Nikki (Rich) Kelly, grandchildren Emily (Matt) Gallagher, Peter Kelly (fiancé Brianna Schmitt), and Benjamin Feit, as well as sisters Tony (John) Darkenwald and Koko (Jerry) Kvistad.

Visitation will be 4-6 pm on Sunday, August 25th, 2019, at Dellwood Country Club. The Funeral Service will be held at Central Lutheran Church in Elk River, Minnesota at 10 am on Monday, August 26th, with lunch to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family would greatly appreciate donations to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation or Young Life Great River.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Patricia Ann Feit, please visit our floral store.