Patrick Dallas Laird

Patrick “Pat” Dallas Laird, age 78 of Mankato, passed away on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at Whispering Oak Place in Ellendale.

Private family services will be held. Interment with military honors will be in Glenwood Cemetery in Mankato. Woodland Hills Funeral Home of Mankato is assisting the family with arrangements. www.woodlandhillsfh.com

Patrick was born on March 17, 1947 to Dallas James and Viola Catherine (Disch) Laird in Mankato, Minnesota. He attended St. John the Baptist Catholic School, Lincoln Jr. High, and Mankato High School. He then furthered his education attending Mankato State University. Pat served his country in the United States Army from May 1966 and was honorably discharged in May 1972. On March 20, 1971 he was united in marriage to Dianne Carol Johnston. He started his career with the Minneapolis Star Tribune and then decided he would be happier with a career having to do with cars. Pat became the dealer lessee of Lairds Skelly, a full-service gas station that did automotive repairs. After the Pike Street Extension project that took his station, Pat then worked as a Service Advisor at Mankato Ford, Lager’s, and St. Peter Ford. He then went on to become Warranty Manager at Chesley Freightliner. After retiring he drove bus for Yaeger and Palmer Bus Companies. He was very active in the Mankato American Legion Post #11 Honor Guard participating in hundreds of funerals. He enjoyed bowling, camping, cars, racing, and was active in the 1st Minnesota Civil War Reenactment. He was a Past Commander and Life-time member of the Mankato American Legion Post #11, and a member of the Moose Lodge, Jaycee’s, and the Coachman Camping Club.

He is survived by his wife, Dianne Laird of Mankato; son, Sean (Danielle) Laird and their children Ean Laird and McKenna Laird of Minneapolis; daughter, Yvette (Christopher) Randall and their children Charlie Randall and Isabelle Randall of Waseca; sister, Connie (James) Skalicky of Owatonna.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Sandy and Maureen.