Patricia Ann Jessen

Patricia A. “Patty” Jessen, 97, died March 4, 2024.  Patty was born on June 24, 1926, in Hot Springs, South Dakota, the third of six children of William “Bill” and Hazel Norman.  She spent the first twelve years of her life in Chadron, Nebraska, where the extended Norman family included 52 first cousins. Bill bought what is now known as the Norman Ranch in 1938 and moved the family and a band of sheep to the new ranch southeast of Gillette. Patty attended Campbell County High School in Gillette, Wyoming, and spent one year at Chadron State University in Chadron, Nebraska, before returning to teach school in Rozet, Wyoming, during World War II. Patty married Jes R. Jessen on September 29, 1945.  Patty and Jes spent six months in Chicago following their marriage, where Jes completed his service in the Navy and Patty worked as telephone operator for the Brown Paper Company. The couple returned to Campbell County and joined Patty’s parents in operating and, later, purchasing the Norman Ranch, which remains in the family. Patty served for many years on the Campbell County Parks and Recreation Board, the Campbell County Library Foundation Board, and the Youth Emergency Services Board. She was a passionate advocate for reproductive rights and instrumental in establishing and expanding Campbell County’s reproductive health services. She also was an advocate for arts and culture. She helped to establish the Campbell County Library art purchasing program as well as volunteering for the Community Concert Series, which brought many notable artists to Gillette over the years. Patty leaves behind her three children, Robert N. “Nick” Jessen, his wife, Elaine White Jessen, and their children and grandchildren, Heather J. Wilcox (husband, Andrew Wilcox, and children, Braxten Wilcox and Rylan Wilcox), Bobbie Pratt (husband, Scott Pratt, and children, Jessen and Preston Pratt), and Mackenzie W. Jessen (husband, Michael Troha, and daughter); Susan L. Hladky, and her children, grandchildren, and great granddaughter, J. Patrick Hladky (wife, Jean Hladky, and children, Drayson (wife, Cassidy and daughter, Parker), Halle, Raimi, and Meg Hladky) and Paul A. Hladky (wife, Andrea Hladky, and daughters, Rylee and Kate Hladky); and Polly B. Jessen (daughters, Margot and Jacqueline Jessen-Hegelbach, and two stepchildren, Katherine Cordes and Matthew Cordes).  She is preceded in death by Jes, her five siblings, Susan’s late husband, James J. Hladky, and daughter, Tammy M. Hladky0 and Polly’s late husband, Edward B. Cordes, and infant twins, Jes and Cecile Jessen-Hegelbach. Funeral services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Gillette, Wyoming, on March 7, 2024 at 11 a.m. and followed by a luncheon at the church.  Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers can be made to the Youth Emergency Services House or Gillette Reproductive Health. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5^th Street, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be expressed at www.gillettememorialchapel.com