Patrick James O’Bryan was born April 10, 1931 at the homestead in Mellette County near Wood, SD to Boyd M. and Theodoshia “Doshia” [Eastin] O’Bryan. The family lived here for a few years then moving to another place in the same area. Pat attended country schools for the lower grades, then went to Winner High School for two years and continuing at Colome High School for the following two years, graduating in 1949.
Pat worked on area farms and ranches for a few years before enlisting in the United States Army and serving in Korea. When he returned from his military service he married Ethel E. Steele in Clearfield, SD in the summer of 1954.
One daughter, Lorinda Lou was born to this marriage in 1958. Pat worked on area farms and ranches in Tripp County until 1963 when he bought a ranch north of Hot Springs, SD bordering the Wind Cave National Park. He worked part-time as a bartender for about 4 years in Hot Springs while ranching and then worked on road construction in South Dakota and Wyoming. Pat was divorced in 1969.
In 1973 he married Carole A. Fleming in Rawlings, WY where they worked on road construction for a few years. In 1982 the bought a bar, restaurant, and campground [Pat’s Place] south of Hill City, SD which they operated for 10 years. In 1992 they sold Pats Place and semi-retired back to the ranch north of Hot Springs. They then bought a bar in Hot Springs called the Red Eye Saloon and ran it for a few years until they sold it and moved back to the ranch full-time. He sold the ranch in 1996 and they moved into a house in Hot Springs.
Pat was a lifetime member of the American Legion holding numerous offices in the organization. He was also a member of the 40/8 organization where he also held many offices including Nationals Grand Locale. He was a lifetime member of the V.F. W. and a member of the Eagles, both in Rapid City.
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