Daniel Howard Patterson

Daniel H. Patterson was born in 1957 in Mexico City to Sara Palma Patterson and Donald H. Patterson. Although the family lived in the United States, his mother returned to Mexico to give birth to most of Dan’s five siblings. He enjoyed dual citizenship because of this choice. He spent his first three years in Chicago before moving to his beloved southern California.

Dan was an exemplary athlete excelling in track, wrestling, and football. He was league champion in shot put and wrestling and awarded best wrestler by the California Interscholastic Federation. Football awards included all-state fullback and linebacker.

Thinking he would pursue a career in the military, Dan served in the Navy as a boatswain’s mate on the Harold E. Holt frigate in Pearl Harbor. At the end of boot camp, he was among a small group that was offered the chance to participate in an experimental program that would allow him to leave with an honorable discharge after six months of service. He chose this option to start his civilian life. A positive aspect of his service was discovering Hawaii, his self-proclaimed favorite place in the world.

In 1979 Dan moved to Durango, Colorado to attend Fort Lewis College as a forestry major. For summer employment, he took a job at Colorado Trails Ranch, where he met his future wife, Lauren Elder, whose family founded the ranch in 1961. Dan and Lauren married that same year and had two children—Logan and Brett. Dan’s ongoing devotion to family was of paramount importance throughout his life.

Dan had a lifelong love affair with motorcycles, starting in 1972 with a Honda 50. His favorite motorcycle was his Harley Davidson Road King. He counted the days until the Colorado weather allowed him to break out his motorcycle, and he was still riding most of the summer before he died in September 2025.

Dan found solace and joy being at the ocean and delighted in scuba diving in beautiful places around the world, including Roatan, Bonaire, Costa Rica, Baja California, and the Channel Islands in southern California.

Dan worked 24 years within numerous divisions at the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office. While he enjoyed the opportunity to help people solve their problems and, in some cases, save their lives as a Patrol Deputy, he found Investigations the most fulfilling, as he solved many complex cases. Other accomplishments within his law enforcement career included field training officer, firearms instructor/range master, Krav Maga instructor, SWAT team leader, and fire marshal.

Family, friends, and colleagues knew Dan to be a gentle, thoughtful, sensitive person who valued family, self-responsibility, and a strong work ethic throughout his life. He said the best advice he ever received was from his father: “Live by example and work hard, don’t follow my example!”

Dan was predeceased by his parents, his daughter Danielle Amber Sanchez, and his sister Nancy Patterson. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Lauren Patterson, sons Logan and Brett, grandchildren Haylee Sanchez, Raine Sanchez, Maxwell Patterson, and Alexander Patterson, siblings Linda Clark, David Patterson, Norma Lubbers, and Diana Jansen, and numerous nieces and nephews.

No services are planned at this time per Dan’s request.