Glenda Earlene Van Patten

Glenda Earlene (Kelly) Van Patten was born February 10, 1944 in Riverton, Wyoming to Earl and Louise Kelly. She was the youngest of seven children. Glenda met Jesus and reunited with the love of her life, Andy Van Patten, her husband of 40 years on May 18, 2025. She attended school in Morton and Lander, Wyoming and some college in Casper.

Glenda married Andy, October 14, 1962. They have two children, Scott and Tammy. Glenda was a cowboy’s wife and a mother, her two most important jobs. She also drove school bus, flagged construction, worked at Hells ½ Acre, The Tumble Inn and a contractor for the Waltman rest area. Glenda was Postmaster in Powder River for 20 years until her retirement on October 31st, 2006. Glenda and Andy Van Patten and Jerry and Anita Wilson started the first Sheepherders fair in Arminto, Wyoming. It then moved to Powder River where it ran consecutively for the next 27 years.

Glenda loved to dance, go to concerts, and attend family gatherings. She also enjoyed playing board games as well as card games, but cribbage was her favorite, and she liked to do a little gambling. She also enjoyed rodeos, horseracing, and hunting.

Glenda never complained about anything. She was tough, funny, stubborn, and beautiful.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Andy Van Patten, her sisters, Virginia Trimmer, Doris George, Rose Barger, and Thelma Holmes, and two nieces and a nephew.

Glenda is survived by her son, Scott (Thaelyn) Van Patten and daughter, Tammy (Donny) Sell, brother, Lua Kelly, and sister, Ruth Dike, several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.

A visitation for family and friends will be held on Tuesday, May 27th, 2025 from 9:00am until the start of the service beginning at 10:00 at Newcomer Funeral Home Chapel. After her 10:00am service, the family will gather at Hiland Cemetery in Hiland, Wyoming (57 miles west of Casper – on Highway 20-26) for graveside services.

The family would like to thank Meadow Wind Assisted Living for their compassion, friendship, and making her journey pleasant. They would also like to thank Bill, Dona, and Tami Larsen and Eddie Lowndes for being there every step of the way. 

To share a memory of Glenda or leave a special message for the family, please visit the guestbook below.