Patrick Claude Eastman

Pat passed away peacefully on June 20th, 2024, in Elk Mountain, WY. He was born on April 20, 1939, in Fargo, North Dakota and grew up in Lisbon for most of his childhood. He maintained lifelong friendships with his high school classmates, which may have started with the mischief in English class. He graduated from North Dakota State University as a Civil Engineer with the exceptional feat of paying his entire college tuition by working nights and weekends at the Red Owl Department Store and the local movie theater. He started his career working on the interstate system across North Dakota. That wasn’t far enough north though, as he ended up in Alaska where he over saw construction of several major airports. It was in Alaska where he met his wife of 54 years, Evette. They spent six years up north where they took Renee and Joel to dog sled and snow mobile races. Pat had an Arctic Cat snow mobile and took the family on rides. He decided to teach Evette how to ride and she ended up going in the wrong direction on a track, which he never let her forget. While living in Ketchikan they spent time backpacking and camping in the beautiful mountains of Alaska. 

 In 1974 the family packed up and moved to Casper Wyoming to start a new chapter together. The weekends were spent hunting and fishing, even an expedition to find the famous hole in the wall hideout. He taught the family how to shoot trap and reload shells. He loved baseball games or just playing catch in the family’s back yard. Pat was a loyal fan of the New York Yankees as he met several of the ball players as a child. One of his prized possessions was a mini bat signed by Roger Maris, who held a longtime record of most home runs hit in a season. Pat and Evette were also avid bowlers, another game he enjoyed throughout his youth winning several trophies.

 In 1980 they moved to Elk Mountain and by this time they had added two new members to the family, Patrick, and Daniel. Pat worked on several mines in the area but in his free time he began designing and building their forever home. Pat was an incredible wood worker, in addition to the house, he began crafting lamps, tables, beds, napkin holders and benches to name a few. Patrick and Daniel have fond memories of Pat making wooden versions of their favorite He-Man toy weapons. Evette remembers many fun dances at the Elk Mountain Pavilion, which led Pat to booking lessons for the two of them, and how they came home to practice, both eventually agreeing they had two left feet. 

 Road-trips were a family favorite past-time. Patrick and Daniel remember visiting sights like Las Vegas, Royal Gorge, the Grand Canyon and Billy the Kid’s grave and museum in Old Fort Sumner. Pat loved the west and cowboys. At least once a year they would visit grandparents and one particular trip included a museum in Moorhead, Minnesota where they saw a Viking Longship, Christmas visit to Grandparents in Sacramento they returned in the middle of the night to 3 feet of snow in the driveway, they had to park in the street and Pat shoveled a walk to the front door just so they could get inside. It took all the next morning for Daniel and Patrick to shovel out the drive.

 When cable arrived in Elk Mountain Daniel and Pat stayed up late watching cheesy horror movies and dubbed samurai and ninja movies. He remembers the two of them laughing way into the night. Patrick remembers helping to finish the house and how every board had to have three coats of polyurethane before they could be hung on the walls. When Patrick began building radio-controlled cars Pat would help, and they went to the Recreation Center in Hanna to race. Neighbors will remember Wii bowling at the Senior Center and how both he and Evette loved Steak Night at The Nugget Bar.

 Pat was fond of his meats, but he never said no to ice cream! Whether it was a road trip stop at Wall Drug for a cone or his favorite Dairy Queen treat Pat always had room for ice cream. Daniel tried to get him to taste Mead, a honey wine, in Ireland but he was more interested in the Irish Cream or the ice cream! Pat was fond of breakfast as well and was always on a quest for the perfect hash browns, they had to be tender potatoes and crispy on the outside. Often a restaurant was chosen by how well they prepared` the hash browns regardless of the rest of the menu.

 When Pat retired from working at the mines, his employment with the town of Elk Mountain really began. He over-saw the construction of the new water system and several upgrades throughout Elk Mountain. After he finally slowed down, Pat followed his favorite sports teams. In addition to the Yankees, he was an avid supporter of the Wyoming Cowgirls Basketball team and he and Evette attended many games. When football season arrived Pat would don his NDSU gear and cheer for his beloved Bisons. 

 Pat touched many lives in this small town. Those who knew him will remember his lively conversations and his many stories and jokes. He will be forever missed.