David C. “Pat” McFarland Jr. was a steadfast member of the Marshall
community, whose thoughtful and generous estate planning will impact generations to come.
Born and raised on a farm east of Marshall, Pat served in the Air Force in World War II, married his beloved wife Dorothy, and was owner of The McFarland Co., a real estate and property development business.
He loved southwest Minnesota and the land he built his life and business on. An informed and passionate philanthropist, Pat realized that the needs of his community were ever changing, and wanted to make sure that his dollars were used wisely to make a difference long into the future.
“Pat helped secure the future of the church,” reflected Sue Fritz, volunteer administrator of Saint James Episcopal Church in Marshall, where Pat and his wife Dorothy were members for decades. “After Dorothy passed away, Pat continued to attend. When we had to replace our roof, Pat matched what the congregation raised dollar-for-dollar so we could have the cedar shingles that were in line with the historical time of the church. His bequest ensures that the church and the maintenance of the building will last.”
Pat worked with the Southwest Initiative Foundation to set up a trio of endowments for enduring impact. His estate included simple bequests to create endowment funds for St. James Episcopal Church, Prairie Home Hospice, and Friends of the Orchestra, all in Marshall. Acting as a kind of savings account, endowments ease financial burden during tough times, and help an organization flourish during prosperous times.
Wise investments by Southwest Initiative Foundation mean that disbursements from Pat’s funds already total nearly $100,000. St. James Church was able to build a raised sidewalk for handicap accessibility, while Friends of the Orchestra was able to establish a student concerto competition and summer string academy.
“Pat was a committed music lover, and a great admirer of this area,” said Dr. Daniel Rieppel, the musical director of the Southwest Minnesota Orchestra. “Our orchestra has a very ambitious program … the only one for a big stretch that has our scope of program.” He added, “A gift like Pat’s means stability for the long term.”
Pat was also mindful of the region’s future and supported Southwest Initiative Foundation’s General Endowment annually as a Growing Home Circle member.
Through careful planning and partnership, Pat was able to create a lasting legacy—one that Daniel Reippel hopes will inspire others. “It is pioneers like Pat McFarland that make Marshall a great place to live. We need the next generation to demonstrate the same kind of committed citizenry.”
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