Piper, Pat

Spouse: Single
Children:
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

Special Legislative Concerns: family support, children, health, human services, education.

She was a native of Delavan and Blue Earth, Minnesota.

"...before getting into politics, Piper spent 22 years as a Franciscan sister." (Rochester Post-Bulletin, February 3, 2016.)

"In addition to advocating for early childhood education funding, Piper was also committed to expanding access to health care. (Senator John) Marty said she was among a small group of lawmakers who helped create MinnesotaCare, a program for lower-income Minnesotans who don't qualify for Medicaid." (Rochester Post-Bulletin, February 3, 2016.)

"'She never backed down from what she believed. She was not afraid -- her focus always being on the downtrodden and poor. I'd call her a saint,' (Senator John) Marty said." (Rochester Post-Bulletin, February 3, 2016.)

"'She really understood and knew the importance of early childhood education. Now obviously many, many years later, it's kind of come to the forefront. But I think back then she was really ahead of her time in that regard,' (Senator Dan) Sparks said." (Rochester Post-Bulletin, February 3, 2016.)

She was a member of the 'Gang of Seven' who helped to establish MinnesotaCare in the early 1990s (Access Press, March 10, 2018).

Her funeral was held at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Austin, Minnesota. She was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Austin, Minnesota.