Former Grand Forks Mayor Pat Owens has died at the age of 83. Owens, who was thrust into the national spotlight during the catastrophic floods of 1997, played a pivotal role in leading her city through one of its most challenging times.
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The devastating floods, which affected Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, caused an estimated $3.5 billion in damages across the Red River region. Owens’ leadership during this crisis earned her widespread recognition and respect.
Elected mayor in 1996, Owens had already built a solid foundation in public service, having worked as a city employee for 33 years before her historic mayoral win. Her tenure was marked by her steadfast commitment to navigating the city through the unprecedented disaster.
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Current Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski offered his condolences and praised Owens’ contributions. “It is safe to say that Grand Forks would not be the City it is today without the work of Pat Owens,” Bochenski said, emphasizing the significant impact of Owens’ leadership during the floods.
After losing her bid for re-election in 2000 to Michael Brown, Owens retired to Florida in 2001. That same year, she was honored with an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the University of North Dakota.
Her commitment to public service did not end with her retirement.
In 2004, Owens was asked by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to act as an ambassador to provide hope to victims of a series of hurricanes that struck Florida. Unfortunately, her retirement community was also affected by these hurricanes, limiting her ability to fulfill this role.
She was married to Bobby Owens. However, it is not known if they had children.
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