Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
ASKEW LYNN E
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
PATTERSON COMPANIES, INC. [PDCO] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Vice President
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
PATTERSON COMPANIES, INC., 1031 MENDOTA HEIGHTS RD.		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
12/21/2004
(Street)

ST. PAUL, MN 55120		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 12/21/2004   M   1,714 A $ 10.14 7,690 D  
Common Stock 12/21/2004   S   1,714 D $ 42.44 5,976 D  

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Options $ 10.14 (1) 12/21/2004   M     1,714   (2)   (3) Common Stock 48,252 $ 0 48,252 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
ASKEW LYNN E
PATTERSON COMPANIES, INC.
1031 MENDOTA HEIGHTS RD.
ST. PAUL, MN 55120		       Vice President  

Signatures

 Matthew L. Levitt, by Power of Attorney   12/21/2004
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Options granted as follows: 19,820 on 2/10/99 at $10.14, 10,444 on 9/01/99 at $10.625, 4,760 on 5/01/00 at $12.1875, 4,262 on 4/30/01 at $15.28, 3,114 on 4/29/02 at $22.57, 3,802 on 4/28/03 at $19.965 and 2,050 on 4/26/2004 at $38.50.
(2) Options are exercisable as follows: 3,964 on February 10 of each year 2004-2008; 1,492 on September 1 of each year 2002-2008; 4,760 on 5/1/2009, 4,262 on 4/30/2010, 3,114 on 4/29/2011, 3,802 on 4/28/2012, and 2,050 on 4/26/2013.
(3) All grants expire 10 years after grant date.

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