Patrick John Hallock

Surrounded by love and music in his Lake Elmo home, Pat passed from this life into eternity on December 4, 2023. He will be remembered for his love of family and music.

Patrick John Hallock was born in Mandan, ND on April 17, 1943, to Alva and Agnes (Gese) Hallock. After his parents separated, Pat and his father moved in with his sister, Alyce (Hallock) Anderson, and her husband Gordon in Jamestown, ND. Pat’s father died when Pat was 11 and Alyce and Gordon became his foster parents. Growing up Pat loved spending summers at the swimming pool and participating in Boy Scouts (earning his God and Country award), however, it was in music he excelled. Once he picked up a French Horn it was love (at first play), and piano lessons were abandoned for band and orchestra. Having no money for college, his band teacher encouraged him to audition for the Navy Band.

Pat graduated from Jamestown High School in May 1961. That summer he auditioned on French Horn for the Navy and was accepted into the Navy Band program. After Navy “boot camp” he went to the Navy School of Music in Washington, DC. While there he had the opportunity to play at the White House for President Kennedy and perform with a group for a general’s funeral at Arlington Cemetery. His first assignment was a Navy Band in Seattle, WA. While there he was able to reconnect with his mother and an older brother. He felt the lure of “life at sea” and boarded a Navy aircraft carrier to Asia. Because a band is assigned to the General’s staff, he played for services aboard ship, assisted in various duties, and the band played concerts for the public when in port. Having completed a well-received concert in Hong Kong, his ship was on the way to Japan when it was diverted to Vietnam. The Vietnam war started and the aircraft carrier was needed to launch planes into Vietnam. Thus, Pat had an extended stay in the Bay of Tonkin off the Vietnam coast. His next assignment was the Boston Navy Band. The highlight of Boston was playing a 4th of July concert by the harbor to an audience of thousands. With his four-year enlistment complete, Pat considered reenlistment but opted for college.

Pat enrolled as a music major at North Dakota State University for fall 1965. He was chosen as concerto soloist (accompanied by the concert band) for the spring 1966 band tour and concert. Having run out of money, he worked until the GI Bill for Vietnam veterans was available in 1967. He returned to NDSU in 1967 and played in the NDSU bands, NDSU wind ensemble, and Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra. Other musical highlights included playing in the ND all-collegiate band, playing under the direction of Arthur Fiedler for a music reading clinic, playing an FM symphony concert of PDQ Bach music under the direction of Peter Schickele, conducting the orchestra for the NDSU musical of Carousel, and returning to Jamestown as guest soloist to perform a concerto with his former high school band. While at NDSU, Pat participated in Sigma Nu (social fraternity), Kappa Kappa Psi (band honorary), Vets club, and student government.

Pat met Linda Markley when they were both freshmen in the NDSU Gold Star marching band. After his graduation from NDSU, they married on June 6, 1970. Making their home in Fargo, Pat was hired as band director at Shanley High School and band teacher for Fargo Catholic schools. He loved his job teaching music, preparing band halftime shows for games, directing concerts, but especially working with students (some of whom he was still in contact with 50+ years later). With a year left of eligibility for GI bill, Pat returned to NDSU as a student to earn his master’s and then specialist’s degrees in education for school administration.

April 1974, Pat and Linda welcomed the arrival of their son Mark Lee. Pat was a very proud dad. Over the next three years while Pat served as a high school principal, Mark and Linda accompanied him to sports events, concerts, and even proms. Again, Pat loved working with students and staff in schools. However, he also learned he did not like dealing with “small town politics”. After living in two small Minnesota towns and the birth of their daughter Patricia JoAnn in 1977; the Hallock family moved to the Twin Cities in order that Pat could again return to school… this time for computer programming.

Pat was initially hired as a programmer for Control Data and began to specialize in database design. After almost ten years with Control Data, he moved to Pillsbury, then Designs for Learning (an education company), and eventually on his own forming a company, Informational Conceptual Modeling (InConcept). While his days were work and part-time teaching programming or database design, his free time was devoted to his family.

Pat was a very loving, involved father who encouraged his children to play music and participate in many activities. He attended all their school activities, concerts, meets and tournaments, etc. Pat even joined karate to participate with them.

Once his children were grown and had left home and Pat retired (closing his company), Pat returned to his first love (of music). He had attended many concerts and occasionally played over the years when the opportunity presented, but now he had time to devote to his music while Linda continued to teach. He joined many bands and groups, often playing multiple concerts on the same day. When Linda retired, they played together in the St Croix Valley Community Band, the St Paul Police Band, and sang in the Giving Voice Choir.

As Pat aged, his body declined. Diabetes, heart issues, cancer, and Alzheimer’s each took their toll. Through it all, Pat maintained his love of family, love of friends, and love of music.

Pat was preceded in death by his parents, Alva Hallock and Agnes (Gese) Caldwell; his sister Alyce (Hallock) Anderson; his brother Lee Hallock; and brother Edward Miller. He is loved and survived by his wife (of 53 years) Linda (Markley) Hallock; his son Mark Hallock; his daughter Trish (Hallock) Schiefelbein; son-in-law Barry Schiefelbein, and grandsons Juun and Ben Schiefelbein.

A musical Celebration of Life for Pat will be held at the family home in June. All family and friends are invited to share memories of Pat and enjoy a concert of music that Pat loved and had significance in his life.

Pat’s family is thankful for the programs (for people with dementia) that Pat participated in and enjoyed through Lyngblomsten and Family Means, the Giving Voice Choir, and the fellowship of Arthur’s Memory Café.