Patricia Jean Carstensen was born in Laramie, WY, on October 31, 1943, to Winne and Osman "Bud" Lyman. She grew up in Rapid City, SD, and graduated from high school in 1961. Pat, with her older sister, Elizabeth "Betty" Ann, spent most of her summer vacations with their grandmother, Senja Ikola, on her homestead ranch in Roubaix, SD. Pat married Karl Carstensen on April 21, 1962, in Rapid City, SD. As newlyweds, Karl worked as a house painter while Pat began full-time bible education work as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Pat and Karl moved to Winner, SD, and later to Bloomfield, NE, and Yankton, SD, both working part time in janitorial work and volunteering in their bible education work.
Sadly, her sister, Betty, died shortly after childbirth in December of 1975. Pat and Karl moved back to the Black Hills to help care for Betty's children;  Lynette, the baby, and Marla, 11 years old. They continued in janitorial work and later resumed full-time bible education work. The pair worked locally cleaning for grocery stores, house cleaning, and for First Western Bank (now Interstate Bank) for over 30 years. She enjoyed spending time with family, hiking in the Black Hills, traveling, and playing cards and the piano.
Pat, 76, of Sturgis, died Monday, December 30, 2019, at Sturgis Regional Hospital.
Pat was preceded in death by her parents, Osman "Bud" and Winnie Lyman; a sister, Elizabeth "Betty" Ann Ramirez; and a nephew, Kenny Havens.
She is survived by her husband, Karl Carstensen of Sturgis, SD; brother-in-law, Tico (Debra) Ramirez of Rapid City, SD; nieces, Marla (Travis) Williams of Brookings, SD, and Lynette (Jeremy) Locken of Dickinson, ND; great-nephews and nieces, Bryce (Taryn) Bennett of Brookings, SD, and Daryn Bennett of Spearfish, SD, Celina Locken of Bottineau, ND, and Alayna and Samuel Locken of Dickinson, ND; great-great-nephew and niece, Grayson and Brynlee Bennett.
Funeral service arrangements are pending.