John Patten, 78, died Friday, October 10, 2008, at the Ft. Meade Hospital after a prolonged battle with Parkinson's disease.

Visitation will be Monday from noon until 5:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel and will resume at the St. Paul's Catholic Church in Belle Fourche from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a rosary beginning at 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul's Catholic Church with Father Godfrey Muwanga officiating. Burial will be at Black Hills National Cemetery.

John was born on October 27, 1929, to Georgianna (Headley) and Benjamin Patten in a sod house in Powder River County, Montana. John was a true child of the depression as he learned young in life the value of hard work and feeding your family. Throughout his life, John practiced those lessons by cultivating and harvesting a large garden. John also appreciated harvesting the gifts of nature including wild plum, chokecherry, apples, deer, antelope, fish, and wild birds.

John completed only a few months of 4th grade before putting school behind him and began earning a living at the age of 14. John worked most of his life as a hired cowboy, farmer, sheepherder, and coal miner. John worked on several ranches throughout eastern Montana and Wyoming. He worked for Greenwood Ranches in Colony, WY, for 28 years. One of his prized possessions was a fiery sorrel horse named úSnorty given to him by his brother, Charles.

Even though he was a gentle man and a devoted pacifist, he answered the call when drafted into the Korean War and served his country with honor. In 1966, John married Leigh Early and they made their home in Belle Fourche, SD, until his death. In 1984, John and Leigh started their own small family ranch and raised commercial beef and lamb. He was a devoted family man and enjoyed supporting his children as they competed in many sports, but most importantly rodeo. John was always there to load tack and horses and to help with rodeo practice.

John is survived by wife, Leigh, Belle Fourche; three sons, Ronny (Ann), New Underwood; Barry (Diane) Ocala, FL; and Sean (Glenna) Bozeman, MT; five daughters, Kathy (Jim) Griffith Decatur, TX; Linda Steward and Rich Larson, Piedmont; Diane (Dave) Reiter, Denver, CO; Lesile (Andy) White, Boise, ID; Laura (Eric) Knothe, Bosie, ID; three brothers Charles (Maxine) Broadus, MT; Whitney, Longmont, CO; Irvine, Sturgis, SD and numerous nieces and nephews.

John is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Ben and Wallace; five sisters Helen Richardson, Shirley Stuver, Beatrice Elvert, Dolly Burke , Janeth Beal ; sister in law Barb Patten..

A memorial has been established.