Patricia Ann Dalton, age 87, passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of her family, at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital on February 16, 2025.

Patricia was born in a small log cabin on August 8, 1937, on the outskirts of Hot Springs, SD, to her parents, Kathryn (Bagley) and Earl Chilson. "Patty," as her mother lovingly called her, was the youngest of their four girls.

Patricia met and fell in love with her future husband, Jimmy, while attending high school at Plainview Academy. They were united in marriage on August 25, 1958, and have been happily married since. Six children were born into that union. Jeff (Colleen) Dalton, Tammy (Dave) Dunkin, Sue (Brent) Buell, Peggy (James) Trimble, Jon (Becky) Dalton and Sarah (Brad) Theusch. To those unions, they were blessed with 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Patricia was drawn to kids, and kids to her. She started her first teaching job in Loma Linda, California, after receiving her degree from Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. During her teaching career, Patricia impacted many young lives. She spread her warmth and love within the school walls and the churches she attended, where she taught cradle roll and kindergarten classes and was a leader at many camp meetings. She was known and loved for her ability to tell stories and share her love of Jesus.

Patricia enjoyed gardening and spent much of her summer planting and harvesting produce to provide for her family. She loved to play the organ and piano and used her talent to provide music in countless church services. Patricia expressed her artistic creativity in cross-stitch, quilting, sewing, and scrapbooking. Still, her favorite and lifetime standout was coloring—from the first box of crayons she received as a toddler to the digital stylist pen she used at age 87.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Kathryn (Bagley) Chilson; her three sisters and their spouses: Wanda (Ben) Prock, Cathie (Max) Singhurst, and Arlene (L.B.) Smith; her niece Jenny (Wanda's daughter) and nephew Steve (Cathie's son), and several of her in-laws. She is survived by her husband, Jimmy Dalton, their six children, eleven grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.

She embodied the best qualities: unconditional love, acceptance of others, strength of spirit, and an unselfish, boundless generosity. She was always someone her children could go to for comfort, love, and advice (and there were many long phone call conversations from each of them to prove it). She shared these qualities with everyone she met and considered family or friends.

The family would like to express a special thanks to the staff at Monument Health Center and Seven Sisters Living Center, where she has received care since September of 2024.

On February 28, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., a service for friends and family will be held at Chamberlain McColley's Funeral Home in Hot Springs. Visitation will be at 1 pm.  Burial will follow the service at Evergreen Cemetery. Afterward, a fellowship luncheon will be held at the Hot Springs Seventh-Day Adventist Church.