John J. Patton, also known as "Johnny", was born December 12, 1929 at Pierre, South Dakota, the son of Patrick H. and Mabel G. (Grotta) Patton.

He grew up in the Milesville and Philip area.

John was united in marriage to Dorothy A. Buschman Hamilton on May 14, 1983, at Pierre, South Dakota. They resided in Philip where John worked at Scotchman Industries until retiring in 1997 and moving to the Hot Springs area. They moved into Custer in 1998.

Grateful for having shared his life are wife Dorothy Patton of Custer; two brothers, Bill Patton and his wife Lois of Missoula, Montana, and Philip Patton of Orange City, Iowa; three sisters, Thelma Heltzel and her husband Jim of Philip, Kathy Pfeifle and her husband Ray of Philip, and Patty Fonseca of Scottsbluff, Nebraska; four step-grandchildren; and a sister in-law, Frankie Pommer and her husband Gene of Hill City, South Dakota.

John was preceded in death by his parents; a sister Irene Stoeser; a brother Robert Patton; and a step-daughter, Diane Bean Kuper on March 19, 2002; a niece Linda Stoeser; and a nephew Alan Pfeifle.

Services were held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 14, 2002 at the American Legion Hall in Philip.

Private family committal was at the Masonic Cemetery, Philip.