On January 24 ^th , Pat and Doris Mitchel were involved in a car accident on interstate I29.  Pat died on scene.  Doris survived the initial trauma, but succumbed to her injuries on February 3 ^rd . Funeral services for Pat and his wife Doris will be Saturday, February 26, 2022, at 12 noon at Peace Lutheran Church in Brookings.  Visitations will be one week prior on Saturday, February 19, 2022, from 2-4 P.M. at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings.

Pat was born and raised in northern California.  He joined the Army during the Vietnam War and served four years in SE Asia.  After returning home, he furthered his education through the Army and became a physician assistant.  Pat later joined the South Dakota National Guard and retired after 23 years of combined service.  In 1984 he went back to school at the University of South Dakota and became a family physician.  He completed residency in Minot ND and later practiced in Burke SD, Minot ND, and Hot Springs SD.  He retired from practice in 2013.  Following the birth of their first grandchild in Brookings, the couple moved to White SD in 2017.  Pat enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, and spending time with family.

Doris was raised in northern Idaho.  She studied nursing at a hospital in Portland OR and became a registered nurse.  In 1973 Doris joined the Army for the purpose of finding a husband.  She met Pat at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and married him 6 months later.   She happily settled into her life as a wife and mother, working as a nurse intermittently to help support the family.  Doris was an active member of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church.  She enjoyed cross-stitching and spending time with family.

Pat and Doris were happily married for 46 years.  They are survived by their four children, Carl (daughter-in-law Paula), Catherine, Matthew, and Jeffery (daughter-in-law Heather), one grandson, Kayden, two step-granddaughters, Oceahna and Mira, Doris's sister Karen and brother Franklin, and Pat's brothers Michael (Charlene) and Daniel.  They were preceded in death by Pat's parents, Carl and Marjorie Mitchel, Doris's parents, Frank and Emma Stanek, and sisters-in-law Linda (Daniel) Mitchel and Tianna (Franklin) Stanek.

The Mitchel family is grateful for and humbled by the outpouring of prayers, love, and support for the loss of our beloved parents.  It is comforting to know so many others loved them as well.

The many gifts and memorials are exceedingly generous and kind.  In response to the question of "how can we help" we have put together a short list of our parents' favorite charitable organizations.  Please feel free to make a donation to one of these organizations or a favorite charity of your choosing.

Pat - Ducks Unlimited, Special Forces Museum at Ft. Bragg, clubs that teach children outdoor activities (particularly hunting and fishing)

Doris - LCMS (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod) churches and schools, Christian talk radio