Dennis Lee Pater was born on May 18, 1958 to Gerrit and Martena (Lubben) Pater in Pipestone, Minnesota.  Dennis was raised near Edgerton, Minnesota.  He was baptized and professed his faith at the Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Leota, Minnesota.  Dennis received his education in the Edgerton School District, graduating with the class of 1977.  After his high school graduation, he attended Pipestone Area Vocational Institute where he took classes for meat cutting.  Upon completion, he worked at Huisken Meat Center in Chandler, Minnesota.   He continued to live on the family farm where he also helped with the farming.  He returned to the Pipestone Area Vocational Institute for an agricultural program while he farmed and continued to farm until the early 1990’s when he began his career long-haul trucking.  He began working with Fortune Transport, Sather’s, and most recently at Kottke Trucking.  Dennis died on November 30, 2014 in Northfield, Minnesota at the age of 56 years, 6 months and 12 days.   

Dennis enjoyed hunting, cooking, golfing but mostly fishing.  Dennis cared greatly about other people; he was very personable and made friends easily.   Dennis was a big guy with a big heart. 

Dennis is lovingly remembered by his siblings: Barb Henrich of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Kevin Pater of Bellevue, Nebraska; nieces and nephews: Leah (Alex) David of Sioux Falls, Eric (Erika) Henrich of Sioux Falls, Jessica (Scott) Knorr of Luverne, Minnesota and Christopher Pater of Lacrosse, Wisconsin; great-nieces and great-nephews: Grayson Henrich and Linkon, Mariah and Sage Knorr.  He is preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law David Henrich.