Marilyn Patterson, age 86, of Austin, Minnesota, and formerly of Gilman, Iowa, died on Wednesday, September 7, 2016, at her home with her family by her side. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, September 12, 2016, at the Grinnell United Methodist Church. A reception will be held after the service in the Friendship Center of the church. Interment will be held privately on Tuesday at Prairie View Cemetery in Gilman. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with the family present to greet friends from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Memorials may be designated to Quilts of Valor, Mayo Hospice, or to the Gilman Community Betterment Fund, mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.smithfh.com. Marilyn Beth Thornes was born on August 14, 1930, in Marshalltown, Iowa, to Tom and Belva Lucinda (Ingraham) Thornes. She was raised near Toledo, Iowa, and graduated from Toledo High School in 1947. She received her teaching certificate from the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls in 1948. On August 20, 1950, she was united in marriage to Robert Eugene Patterson at the United Methodist Church in Toledo, Iowa. The couple resided in Gilman while running the family farm. Marilyn was an educator for over 34 years and taught at country school Columbia #9, Ferguson, Gilman, SEMCO and East Marshall public schools. In 1970, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Drake University in Des Moines. She was a member of the Iowa Federation of Women's Club, WSCS, National Education Association, Iowa State Education Association, EMEA, was past president of the Gilman Library Board, founded the Gilman Community Betterment, was president and served on the board of directors at the Gilman Retirement Home, and served two terms on the Gilman City Council. She was a speaker and humorist for various civic organizations; her most requested talk was the topic of toilet paper. Her enjoyments included painting, quilt blocks, making crafts, including Scherenschnitte and china painting, solving puzzles and game shows, and traveling throughout the United States. Marilyn was a lifelong member of the Gilman United Methodist Church where she also taught Sunday school and Bible school. Marilyn is survived by three daughters, Kathy Davis of Irving, Texas, Sally (Steve) Kriegel of Gilman, and Joyce (Tom) Harris of Grimes, Iowa; son, Tom (Kim) Patterson of Gilman; 7 grandchildren (Angie Davis, Jared and Sarah Kriegel, William and Stephanie Patterson, Adam and Scott Harris); 4 great grandchildren (Caitlin Monk, Connor, Alyssa and Callen Kriegel); siblings, Mac (Elaine) Thornes of Marshalltown, Iowa and Genevieve Paxson of Ocala, Florida; companion, Donald Wolfe of Austin, Minnesota and his children, Renee Brunner of Owatonna, Minnesota and Rhonda Puetz of Rolling Stone, Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews. Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents; husband; infant twin daughters, Marilee and Marilynn Patterson; Glen and Elizabeth (Ward) Patterson and several in-laws.