Patricia Stangeland

Patricia “Patti” Stangeland, 76, of Ortonville, MN, passed away on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Fairway View in Ortonville.

A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, May 8, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Ortonville, MN. Visitation will be held Thursday, May 7, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Mundwiler & Larson Funeral Home in Ortonville. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service on Friday. Fr. Shawn Polman will celebrate the Mass, and inurnment will be at Mound Cemetery in Ortonville.

Patricia “Patti” Dorothy Stangeland was born on June 3, 1949, in Richmond, MN, to Gilbert and Elizabeth “Betty” (Rau) Harmening. Her father, Gilbert, passed away when Patti was two years old. Her mother later married Dale Hausauer, who lovingly raised Patti from early childhood and was an important part of her life.

Patricia grew up in Richmond, where she attended school before continuing her education at the University of Minnesota in Mankato. There, she pursued studies in botany, reflecting her lifelong appreciation for plants and flowers.

She later married Steve Stangeland. During their marriage, the couple moved frequently while Steve served in the military. The couple later divorced.

Patricia began her career at the Big Stone Canning Factory, where she served as a supervisor. She later joined the Big Stone County Sheriff’s Office as a dispatcher, a role she held for many years. Her commitment to public service continued when she went on to work for the Big Stone County Court Department, where she remained until her retirement.

Patricia was a faithful member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Ortonville, MN, for many years.

She is survived by her uncles: Walter (Lucy) Rau, and Raymond (Sherri) Rau; aunt, Irene Switajurski; cousins: Cathy (Greg) Mattson, Ruth (Rob) Ricketts, Michael (Sara) Rau, Rudley (Cricket) Rau, Therese Rau, Stayce Rau, Nancy (Scott) Greene, Brittany Greene, and Jacob Greene; cousin, Sara Kockx.

She was preceded in death by her father, Gilbert Harmening; mother and father: Elizabeth and Dale Hausauer; brother in infancy, Michael Harmening; uncles: Arnold Rau, Werner Rau, Arthur Rau; aunts: Lucy Kockx, Vera Rau, Barbara Rau; cousin: Carol Kockx.