Patricia Rench

Patricia “Pat” Rench, 76, of Milbank, SD, passed away on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at Milbank Area Hospital – Avera Health in Milbank.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, May 11, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Milbank, SD. Visitation will be held Sunday, May 10, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and will close with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service on Monday. Fr. Tom Hartman will celebrate the Mass, and interment will be at St. Lawrence Cemetery in Milbank.

Patricia “Pat” Jo (Pitts) Rench was born on March 11, 1950, in Cherokee, IA, to William Pitts and Dorothy (Smith) Pitts. She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith and graduated from Pocahontas Catholic High School in Pocahontas, IA.

Following her education, she attended beauty school in Storm Lake, IA, where she became a licensed hairdresser for 20 years. After that, she became manager of the Lytton Country Store, later renamed Sparky’s One Stop. Pat was always up for coffee and conversation with her customers. She developed lifelong friends there, and Lytton will always be considered home.

On December 1, 1973, Pat was united in marriage to Danny Rench, and they made their home in Lytton, IA. One year later, they were blessed with their daughter, Dena. During their time in Lytton, Pat was very involved in volunteerism. She served on the Lytton City Council, the library board, was Gala Days chair, and was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sac City, IA. She was also elected as the first female member of the Lytton School Board.

In 2015, Pat and Danny moved to Milbank, SD, to be closer to Dena and her family, especially her granddaughters, Mia, Marnie, and Macie. Pat continued her love of volunteering at St. Lawrence School, St. Lawrence Church, and the Grant County Library. She also sang in the Hope Choir at church.

Pat had a deep love for her family and her friends, who quickly became family to her. She had an amazing smile that warmed your heart. She was an avid reader, loved doing puzzles with friends, and enjoyed playing games with her granddaughters.

Even though Pat was battling cancer, she always remained upbeat and took every day with a smile. She wanted to make sure that others were taken care of first.

She is survived by her daughter, Dena (Mark) Van Lith of Milbank, SD; granddaughters Mia, Marnie, and Macie; brothers Mel (Marian) Pitts of Sioux Rapids, IA; Mark (Nancy) Pitts of Hamburg, IA; Bill (Suzy) Pitts of Astoria, OR; Kenny (Tara) Pitts of Rembrandt, IA; and Scott (Shannon) Pitts of Bentonville, AR; brothers-in-law Jerry (Linda) Rench, Tom (Jen) Rench, and Donnie (Joni) Rench; sisters-in-law Marilyn Rench and Barb Rench; brother-in-law, Darrell Lester; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her sister, Dixie Lester; brothers-in-law, Deloss and William Rench; sisters-in-law: Jane Bennett, Kathy Martin, and Marilyn Geery; and her niece, Beth Lester.