FORMERLY BELOIT – Patricia Marie Pruitt Dierks, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on February 7th in Thousand Oaks, CA at the age of 84.
Pat was born on December 11, 1940, to Harold J. Pruitt and Lois Plymire Pruitt in Beloit, KS. She grew up on the family farm, attended high school in Beloit, and won blue ribbons at the state fair for her sheep and baked goods. Pat attended the College of Emporia in Emporia, KS where she earned her teaching degree and later her master’s in psychology.
Pat and Darrell met in college and were married on September 4th, 1960, in Beloit. They had three children. After teaching in Kansas, they moved to Iowa where Pat continued to teach and then became a school psychologist for AEA-7. Later she was employed at Exceptional Persons Inc. until she retired in 1998. They moved to Cottonwood, AZ in 2001. In early 2024, they moved to Thousand Oaks, CA.
Pat spent her entire life in service to others. Her accomplishments include leading an all women-built house for Habitat for Humanity, CASA volunteer, mission trips, and as a member of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America she made beautiful, embroidered gowns for parents who had babies that died in the hospital. She co-founded three food pantries with her husband at churches in Iowa and Arizona. The third pantry, Project Rising Hope, continues to serve hundreds of families weekly in the Verde Valley.
Pat loved flower gardening and was a Master Gardener. She enjoyed quilting and counted cross-stich, making her kids imaginative birthday cakes, and was a fixture at school events. She adored her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Pat loved to travel, especially to Hawaii.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Marian Pauline, brothers Joseph Edward and Donald. Survivors are her husband Darrell of Thousand Oaks, CA, two sons Duke Dean (Lisa) of Cedar Falls, IA, Darrin Dane (Cindy) of Cedar Rapids, IA, and daughter Dawn Diane Luna (Daniel) of Thousand Oaks, CA, nine grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 25th, at 9 am, at Journey Church 750 E. Mingus Ave., Cottonwood, AZ. A brunch will follow. Burial services will be held on Saturday, April 26th, at 11 am, at Saltville Cemetery in Barnard, KS. A luncheon will follow at the First Presbyterian Church in Beloit. The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to Project Rising Hope (Tax ID: 84-4062558), a 501c3 charitable organization.
