She was born June 12, 1947 in Minneapolis, MN to Leslie and Vivian (Brendmoen) Pinckney. During her youth she moved around with her family living in Minnesota, South Dakota, and finally ending up in Iowa. Pam graduated from Orange High School in Waterloo, IA in 1965, and the family found its permanent home in Des Moines, IA after graduation.

Pam moved around a bit more after graduation to Nebraska and Colorado and she had her daughter, Kristy, in 1969 in Little Rock, CO. After the birth of her daughter she decided to move back home to Des Moines to raise her. There she met Larry Burkhead and the two were married in July of 1972. Larry joined the Air Force and was stationed to Champaign, IL, then transferred to Rapid City where they had a son, Korry in 1973. She worked for Whistler Bearing as a book keeper during this time, and after Larry was released from the Air Force they decided to make their home in Rapid City as it was such a great place to raise the children. She enjoyed long drives through the Black Hills, picnics at the parks, and going to the beach at Angostura Lake. They bought a house in town that was perfect for the family, and excitedly moved in. Sadly, they were separated in 1980 and Pam kept the house while Larry lived close by to stay close with the children.

Pam started at Prefab Trucking as a dispatcher in 1981 and excelled at being her own boss, and taking care of her children. She met Robert Cole through work and they were married in July of 1983. The two of them enjoyed snowmobiling, bowling, and playing pool. They were blessed with a son Rob in 1984, and a later a daughter, Katie in 1986. Pam enjoyed upgrading and remodeling the house that she had. She always had two or three plans of something new to do with the house. She changed companies to Smithway Motor Express and excelled even more, which gave her more of an opportunity and chance to remodel her house. Robert eventually moved to the West Coast and the two were separated.

Pam was then reunited with an old friend, Terry Collins, and the two of them also played in pool leagues and enjoyed the outdoors. The two were married in February of 1991 in Rapid City, he had two children that Pam considered her own when they would come to visit.

In 1993, her business dissolved, and Pam sold her house and moved her and the three of her children back to Des Moines to be closer to family. She worked at various jobs in Des Moines, but could really never find anything she enjoyed. They all moved back after a few years and Pam started working for East West Motor Express as a dispatcher and then worked at Roth Trucking as a bookkeeper, and retired due to health concerns in 2010.

Pam was very involved with the Sons of Norway and served as secretary for 10 years. She loved her Norwegian heritage, and collected anything Norwegian she could, and in her spare time she tried to teach herself how to speak Norwegian using education cassette tapes. She was the first generation in her family that didn't speak the language, but she always said she could understand what her elders were talking about from listening to them talk in the language for so long.

Pam was a single mom of four children who worked hard to give them the best life that she could. She sacrificed a lot to make that happen. Pam was a collector of various other items that meant a lot to her, such as baskets, china, crystal glasses and plates, and Agatha Christie books. She literally kept every toy from each of her children throughout the years. She loved to cook and feed her children and their friends, an "army" as she called it.

After her passing, the nurse said, "She made me laugh every night, but she also has an honoree side." Which sums her up perfectly!

Survivors include two sons; Korry (Janae) Burkhead, Dickinson, ND, Rob (Jessy) Cole, Rapid City, two daughters; Kristy (Cyle) Thorstenson, Rapid City and Katie (Kevin) George, Rapid City, six grandchildren; Jordan, Jada, Robbie, Ellie, Brady and Abby, five brothers; David (Sandy) Pinckney, Newberry Park, CA, Vic (Peg) Pinckney, Decorah, IA, Dr. Tom Pinckney, Des Moines, IA, Tim (Susie) Pinckney, Adel, IA and Terry Pinckney, Ankeny, IA.

She was preceded in death by her parents.