Norma Katherine Patton

Memorial services for Norma Katherine (Johansen) Patton, 99, will be conducted on at 11:00 am, Monday, November 18th at the First United Methodist Church by Reverend Dan Odell. Private inurnment will take place at a later date in the Oregon Trail State Veterans' Cemetery. She died November 13, 2024 in Casper, Wyoming.

Norma was born on December 12, 1924 in Hay Springs, Nebraska, the youngest of nine children of Fred W. and Annie (Williams) Johansen. Following graduation from Hay Springs High School in 1942, she was employed as a secretary at the Douglas Aircraft Corporation in El Segundo, CA. She returned to Hay Springs and worked as a secretary for the Mirage Flats Irrigation Project, and later for the USDA’s Soil Conservation Service (SCS) in Hay Springs. In 1948, she transferred to the Regional Office SCS in Lincoln, Nebraska and in 1953, transferred to the Wyoming State Office Soil Conservation Service in Casper, Wyoming.

She married Kenneth D. Patton on November 26, 1955 at the Chapel of the Transfiguration in Moose, Wyoming. They celebrated over 63 years of marriage together. Their married life was spent in Casper except for a period from 1974-1977 when they lived in Huntington Beach, California. They raised two children, a son Craig, and a daughter Gail.

Norma was active in her community as a member of the First United Methodist Church and sang in the church choir for many years. She belonged to the United Methodist Women, was active in the National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees, holding several offices in both organizations and a volunteer in the Natrona County Democratic offices and served many years as an election judge in Natrona County. 

Norma’s special interests were her family, music and flower gardening. She was known to her 5 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, and many in the community as “Bumma.” She loved playing Scrabble, doing the crossword puzzle, and playing Wordle daily.

Survivors include her son Craig Patton from Boulder, CO and daughter Gail (Joel) Schenfisch of Casper, WY; her five grandchildren Robyn (David) Bopp, Andrea (Justin) Burger, Sarah Patton, Mark Schenfisch and Anna Schenfisch; and five great-grandchildren Adam, Josie, and Claire Bopp, and Adela and Weston Burger.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth D. Patton; her parents; five brothers, Horace, Fred, Ferd, Ellis and Willard Johansen; and three sisters, Connie Miller, Thelma Carter and Madge Dugger.

Live Streaming of the memorial will be available at https://www.youtube.com/@casperfumc9019