Minnie Turner Patton

Minnie Turner Patton passed away of natural causes September 12, 2025. Minnie was born November 29, 1933, in the Brown Creek section of Anson County, North Carolina to Willliam Stokes Turner Sr. and Marie Carpenter Turner. She was the eldest of four children and was preceded in death by her husband Edward Williams Patton Sr., her parents and her sister Ann Blalock. She is survived by her brother William Turner Jr. (Bobbie), sister Peggie Bailey, her children Edward Patton Jr. (Robin) and Linda Swanstrom (Troy), four grandchildren Maude and Jack Patton, Alexa and Dan Swanstrom, and her partner Richard Max and his family.

Minnie was raised on the family farm and attended school in Polkton, NC, graduating from Polkton Highschool in 1952 in a class of 12. Always the overachiever, Minnie received pretty much every award available in academics, sports, and of course attendance! She went on to attend East Carolina University graduating in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics. It was at ECU where she met her husband Ed Patton at a beach party, which mom admits she had to sneak off campus to attend! Ed and Minnie were married February 26,1956 starting a grand adventure that would take them from the Atlantic to the Pacific and many points in between. They were blessed to have shared 54 wonderful years of marriage, setting a great example for their children on how to lead a full and meaningful life.

Minnie was a force of nature and never shied away from a challenge, embracing life to its fullest. She and Ed moved their young family from the Isle of Palms, South Carolina to Honolulu, Hawaii in 1962. They drove across country to San Francisco, spending three weeks in a hotel while Minnie “negotiated” with the federal government on transporting their car to Hawaii - guess who won! While in Hawaii, Minnie worked for Honolulu Gas Co. where she hosted a weekly TV show “Wikiwiki Kaukau for the Working Wahine” demonstrating meal ideas and cooking tips for busy working women. A true trailblazer in the cooking show genre!

When the family moved back to the mainland, Minnie shifted her focus to education, teaching Home Economics in Nevada, California and ultimately in Boise, Idaho. While her passion was Home Ec, she always rose to the challenge of teaching what was needed in her schools. While at Capital High School in Boise she took on the challenge of developing the curriculum for Independent Adult Living – a groundbreaking class teaching high school students the practical skills needed to survive in the adult world. In 1980 Minnie left the education arena and embarked on an entirely new career as an agent for New York Life Insurance Company. She was later promoted to Training Manager for the Idaho and Montana region, a career which fed her passion for both education and travel.

Outside of work, Minnie loved spending time with her family and friends, golfing, skiing, playing bridge, traveling and entertaining. In addition to her hobbies, she was an active member of PEO, The Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation, and the Cathedral of the Rockies Methodist church.

Minnie was lively and engaging to the end, always looking for the next adventure. We are confident she will find it in heaven, surrounded by those who passed before her, and receiving the rest of us with her southern hospitality when we see her next.

Minnie’s life will be celebrated on Saturday October 4 at 3:00 pm at the Cathedral of the Rockies Boise United Methodist Church, 717 N 11th St., Boise, Idaho followed by a reception at Crane Creek Country Club, 500 W Curling Dr. She will be interred next to Ed at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donations to the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Heart Association, or the charity of your choice.