1945 - July 8, 2024

Patricia Ann Becker Ernisse of Lincoln, Nebraska passed away on July 8, 2024 of natural causes.  A strong and independent woman who, after attending Lincoln High School (Class of 1963) and graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln at the Business School (Class of 1967), she launched her career as the only woman on the advertising and sales team at the Lincoln Journal-Star.  Her ensuing 45-year career in restaurant marketing showcased her creative strengths resulting in imaginative events at Runza, Golden Corral, and The Rose and Village Inn.  (Remember the Perkins promotion at the Kansas City Zoo in whch real elephants ate salads from a bread bowl?  She also made sure the Kansas City Chiefs coaches each Tuesday during the season had Perkins while studying film.  That was Pat.)  She was a pioneer for the Runza food truck and the pumpkin pails so many Lincolnites enjoy today.

Pat proudly raised two equally strong daughters:  Jennifer, a national advocate for girls in STEM, and Ashley, Dallas Stars employee and former Dallas sports producer.  Both daughters humored her passion for cooking shows and celebrity news, her penchant for weather rivlaing the best weather channel meteorologists, and her joyful cooking while telling stories and recipes from her German-Russian background passed from her Mom and Dad.  Pat's friends and family alike marveled at her creative spirit, drive, and resilience.  She loved a great margarita and never refused a good challenge or fast car.  Pat even sat in the pace car at the Texas Motor Speedway race.  She lived to make an impact through her work and her daughters, attending to all with moxie and a smile.

Patricia is preceded in death by her parents, John and Minnie Becker, her best friend, Kathi Krause, as well as her aunt and uncle Phil and Elvina Becker.  She is survived by her brother John Becker (Nancy), sister Susan Brunaz (Roy), cousin Jean Keister; her daughers Jannifer Stancil (John) and Ashley, and her grandchild, Avery; former husband Jerry Ernisse, and numerous neices and nephews and grand nephews.

Pat will not have a public memorial service.

Please visit https://memorialsource.com/memorial/patbeckerernisse to share your pictures and memories of her or make a donation in her honor.  

https://www.wyuka.com/patricia-ann-ernisse/