OBITUARY...
Pauletta Lee (Christensen) Gutierrez was born May 11, 1950 in Rapid City, SD. She shared her childhood with two sisters, Terry and Linda, and often took on the role of caretaker for her younger siblings. She was a kind-hearted woman, whose generosity was evident even as a child, when she used her babysitting money to purchase dresses for her little sisters. She was also blessed with three brothers, Richard, John, and Jim Hart, who were an important part of her life. As an adult, she was excited to learn of another brother, John Tracy, and was blessed to be able to connect with him.

Pauletta married Rodger Chant and their marriage was blessed with four children: Tedd, Kathy, Harold, and James. When the children were young, they would often spend time camping and took several memorable road trips, which resulted in many stories that were shared often with friends and family. Rodger and Pauletta later divorced but remained close friends throughout their lives. Pauletta married and shared her life for a time with James Meyer, before later marrying Narcis Gutierrez. She shared her life with him until his passing.

Pauletta was a loving mother whose steadfast faith and support for her children was unwavering. Her generous nature and caring heart made her a sincere and supportive friend. Every guest who entered her home was welcomed with warmth. Pauletta was always concerned that everyone she encountered have a warm meal and a safe place to sleep, and over the years this led her to open her heart and her home to friends, acquaintances, the friends of her children, and people who entered her house as strangers and left her home as family.

Pauletta enjoyed caring for all creatures great and small, taking in many cats, dogs, and birds who brought her great joy throughout her life. She loved gardening and took pride in distributing the fruits and vegetables she cultivated to the people she knew. She had a wicked sense of humor and enjoyed nothing more than spending time with her family and close friends. Many wonderful evenings were spent at her kitchen table laughing and playing cribbage, Rummikub, or Triominos. She passed many happy hours with her dear friends Kim Berry, Dave and Linda Morgan, Judy Chant, and Michel Saby.

Pauletta spent several years working at the Civic Center before entering the home health and senior care field where she used her compassionate nature to bring comfort and relief to the patients in her care, until she retired for health reasons. Her later years were spent showering affection on her fur babies, Marley and Bitsy, and spending quiet evenings with her family and roommate Judy.

Pauletta departed this world on September 14, 2018. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Richard, her son Tedd, the father of her children Rodger, and her husband Narcis. Grateful to have shared her life are her sisters Terry Hurley of North Platte, NE; Linda Jean Taylor, of Caldwell, ID; her brothers John (and Debbie) Hart of Redding, CA; Jim (and Gail) Hart of Redding, CA; John (and Sheri) Tracy of Belle Fourche, SD; her children Kathy Leipold of Belle Fourche, Harold (and Angie) Chant of Rapid City, and James (and Vanessa) Chant of Rapid City.