Pamela Jo Koester, 61, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. Pam’s Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at the Medora Community Center, Medora with Rebecca Kaisian presiding.
Pam was born November 23, 1964, in Dickinson, North Dakota, to Louis “Sparky” Trotter and Joanne Leppart. When Pam was four years old, she moved with her family to Canada, where she spent her early childhood living on a ranch. The family later returned to North Dakota, She grew up in Medora. She attended DeMores Elementary School, spent two years at Belfield High School, and graduated from Beach High School.
Later in her childhood, Joanne married Dennis Joyce while Pam was still in elementary school. Dennis became an important father figure in Pam’s life.
At just 13 years old, Pam began working at the Medora Riding Stables. She continued there until 1984, giving her an early connection to horses and to the Medora community that remained meaningful throughout her life.
Pam was never one to shy away from hard work. After 1984, she worked a variety of jobs, including at the Medora ice cream shop, she helped feed the construction crew building the Medora Amphitheater. She also bartended and managed a gaming association, meeting countless people and making friendships along the way.
But Pam’s greatest work was the life she built with her family.
At 19 years old, Pam married Douglas Koester on September 29, 1984, in Medora, North Dakota. Together, they built a life centered around family, ranching, hard work, animals, and the western North Dakota way of life. They raised two boys, JC and Dude, and Pam was a devoted mother who loved watching her family grow.
Ranching became an important part of Pam’s life. She loved the work, the animals, the land, and the everyday life that came with it. She found joy in the simple things: being outdoors, working around the ranch, gardening, watching football, and spending time with the people she loved.
As much as Pam loved being a mother, becoming a grandmother brought her another kind of joy. Her five grandchildren—Claire, Mazi, Ryatt, Amelia, and Darlynn—were incredibly special to her. She treasured every moment with them and took great pride in watching each of them grow. Her love for them was unmistakable, and the memories they made with her will remain with them for the rest of their lives.
Pam is survived by her husband, Douglas Koester; her sons, JC Koester and Dude Koester and his wife, Preslie; her grandchildren, Claire, Mazi, Ryatt, Amelia, and Darlynn; her mother, Joanne Joyce her husband Dennis Joyce; her siblings, Kerry Trotter, Guy Joyce and his wife Tanya Joyce, and Lorne and Heather Trotter; along with numerous extended family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her father, Louis “Sparky” Trotter; her grandparents, Johnny and Elise Trotter and Ted and Betty Cornell; and her brother, T.J. Trotter.
Pam will be remembered for her strong work ethic, her fiery spirit, her love of animals, her independent nature, and her deep devotion to her family. She lived a life that was never about having everything perfect—it was about working hard, loving the people around her, and making the most of the life she was given.
To those who knew her, Pam was more than a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, or friend. She was someone who left a mark. Her stories, her laughter, her strength, and even her stubborn streak will live on in the people who loved her.
Her greatest legacy is the family she leaves behind and the love she poured into them. That love will continue through her children and grandchildren for generations to come.
