Christopher Paul Patton

Funeral service for Christopher Patton will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 4, 2026 at Gillette Memorial Chapel. Burial will be on Friday, June 5, 2026 at 1:00p.m in the Evergreen Cemetery in Hot Springs, SD. Christopher Paul Patton, 57, of Gillette passed away on May 13, 2026 at his home.

We humbly ask for your support at this difficult time. Contributions will go directly towards covering final arrangements. No amount is to small, and your kindness-whether through giving or simply keeping our family in your thoughts and prayers. Please use the following link to help contribute:

https://cap.passare.com/s/VwgKLohorGxMKsfpD7UrJr

On May 13, 2026, Christopher Patton, beloved father, son, brother, uncle, and friend passed away unexpectedly in his home.

Christopher was born April 25, 1969 in Gillette, WY to Sharon and James “Jim” Patton. He was the youngest boy of his six siblings, and from an early age, he loved being in nature, hunting and fishing, and spending time with his family and friends.

Chris learned how to load a rifle and bait a hook before he even started grade school. His time spent outdoors instilled in him respect for nature and for his Native culture, both of which were foundational to his identity throughout his life. He enjoyed tagging along with his older brothers, and they spent many days in their youth tracking deer and fishing every pond they’d come across. Chris was such an excellent fisherman, his brothers often joked “he could catch a fish in a mudhole!”

Chris made friends wherever he would go and always saw the best in people, even though it rarely worked out for him. He would lend his last few dollars to help out a friend, and wanted nothing more than to be able to take care of those he loved and show them his gratitude for all they had done. He was a simple man; quiet and observant and he listened to others without judgement. He was mechanically inclined, and taught himself a variety of skills over the years.

Around the age of 18, Chris was married briefly and had his first child, a boy named Jesse. Shortly thereafter, Chris met Lisa. The two were deeply in love with one another and married not long after they met. The young couple then had their daughter, Mikayla, and Chris’s sweet and gentle nature made him the perfect girl dad. A few years later, their family grew as they welcomed another baby girl, Sarah, and though her time on this earth was short, she was loved enough to last a dozen lifetimes and more.

Despite this loss profoundly changing Chris, he continued to be the kind and selfless person he had always been. He loved animals and had plenty of pets throughout his life, including his giant yellow lab, Wendy, his feisty minx, Giza, and his newest kitten, Emma. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, Nevaeh and Jaxton, and cherished any opportunity to be around his family. Those who knew him describe him as a “dreamer,” as someone who truly reveled in the best parts of life. Though he was naive at times, he was an inherently good person who would do whatever he could to help others, even though he couldn’t always help himself.

Chris was sincerely loved and his passing is a great loss to our family. We find comfort in knowing he is now home, surrounded by family and reunited with his daughter. We truly believe he is at peace and will always hold his memory in our hearts.

He is survived by his daughter, Mikayla (Tucker) Patton; his two grandchildren, Nevaeh and Jaxton; his son, Jesse; and his siblings; Dawn (Colan) Hulse, Lorne (Lona) Patton, Faron (Jane) Patton, Jamie (Sherry) Patton, and Laura (Bob) Cunningham, along with countless nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, James and Sharon Patton, his wife, Lisa Patton, and his daughter, Sarah Patton.