Sam Justin Patterson passed away on October 24, 2024, at the age of 43. Sam was born on January 21, 1981, in Sturgis, South Dakota, to Gary and Bev Patterson. He was raised & attended school in Sturgis & graduated from Sturgis Brown High School in 1999. Sam attended Fitness Professionals International in Hawaii where he graduated from the six-week Residential Training with Strong, Stretched & Centered as a personal trainer. After graduation, Sam worked construction for several years. Sam began working for Arch Coal/Black Thunder in Wright, WY. Because he missed being away from Barrett & Bodie, he took a job at Coure Mining (Wharf) in Lead, SD on “B Crew.”
Sam was somewhat of a natural in most sports. He played soccer, he bowled on “Bern’s Bombers” team where he received many trophies & other awards. He also played Little League & received the Tige Cooper Award. Sam went on to play Legion Baseball & at one time was known as the “Home Run King”. Sam played basketball until 9th grade & at one time, won the Free Throw Contest. Sam played Football in middle school & high school where he excelled. In 1998, during his junior year as a member of the Sturgis Scooper Football team, he was named Most Valuable Player & was selected to the All-Greater Dakota Conference. Sam also enjoyed skiing & golf.
Sam was an outgoing guy, very adventurous and loved to travel. He attended Woodstock in 1999, went to Europe in 2001-2002, and Mexico in 2022. He had a passion for tattoos & took great pride in the ones he had. Sam loved spending time at the cabin at the “Ponderosa” with his family and friends.
In 2007, Sam became a loving and devoted dad when he welcomed Barrett into his life. Then in 2017, Bodie joined Sam and Barrett and that completed Sam’s world.
He was a friend to all and never met a stranger. He lit up the room when he walked in with his contagious smile. When talking with Sam, he always made you feel like you were special. He had a love for people whether young or old and everyone in between. You could count on him to shovel snow (which he did around town) or do any other odd jobs that friends and neighbors needed. He enjoyed having a cold beer (or two or three) with friends downtown at any of his favorite spots. Sam loved going to the Vets Club to play the Queen of Hearts and Loud American for the Ace of Spades. He loved “TOP GUN” & watched it countless times. So much so that he could recite it word for word & his favorite line was “it’s classified”. He loved his Dallas Cowboys and you could always hear him cheering them on. He was very proud to have received an autographed football from Troy Aikman that read…best to you, Troy A., Dallis Cowboys #8. How Bout Them Cowboys!
Sam is loved & will be missed by sons, Barrett Patterson (his mom Kristi, and his sister Olivia) and Bodie Patterson (his mom Jess), parents, Gary and Bev Patterson of Sturgis, sister, Shalane Pinkerton (Kelly) of Corpus Christi, Texas, brother, Chris Patterson of Gillette, WY, nephews Dakota Roe of Corpus Christi, Texas, Dalton Roe (financé Avery Kubecka) of Corpus Christi, Texas, Casin Patterson of Gillette, WY, niece Harper Patterson of Gillette, WY, aunts, Diana Cole & her family of Belen, NM and Pamela (Jim) Cowen of Gillette, WY, uncle and godfather, Doug (Sue) Koppmann of Rapid City, SD, godmother, Phyllis Dalzell of Ekalaka, MT, cousins, Dallis (Stacey) Cowen, Bailey (Jena) Cowen, Raeann (Cameron) Gulley, Jason (Lisa) Koppmann, and Jerred (Lisa) Koppmann. Also, numerous other family members & many wonderful friends including his “sister from another mister”, Julie Jenter Plaggemeyer.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents, S.J. (Pat) & Irene Patterson and Bernard & Helen Eveleth, Uncle Richard (Dick) Cole, Aunt Patty Patterson Koppmann, sister-in-law Shanie Hughes Patterson and cousin Laree Cole Baca.
An educational account will be established for the benefit of Barrett & Bodie.
A visitation is scheduled for Friday, November 1, 2024 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at the First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis, South Dakota. Funeral services will be on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at the Sturgis High School West Gym on Hwy 34, beginning at 1:00pm. Interment to follow at Bear Butte Cemetery. The family invites you to join them for fellowship at the Loud American following the burial.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com.
