Eastern Montana Veterans Cemetary

He was 69. Pete was born in Stillwater County, Montana, and graduated from Absarokee High School in 1966. A football quarterback and fan of drag racing, Pete was student adviser to Future Farmers of America and prom king.Pete grew up in a time and place that formed his wide-ranging interests, talents, and love of freedom and natural beauty. He did a little bit of everything— haying, branding, sheep shearing, carpentry, shooting gophers with friends, and being a rodeo clown. He learned to tinker with everything and fix many things. Upholding the civic responsibilities of the Cold War era, Pete helped watch the sky for Russian aircraft, just in case.After a year at Eastern Montana College, Pete enlisted in the U.S. Army in October 1967. He served in Germany and deployed to Vietnam from March 1969 to May 1970. He participated in the Tet Counteroffensive as a member of the 23rd Infantry (Americal) Division. He was promoted to staff sergeant and awarded the Bronze Star Medal.After his service, Pete worked in California and Montana in construction, a lifelong profession. He was accomplished as a stonemason. In Hardin in the early 1980s, he wrote and published “The Briefs,” a daily news and advertising paper. Pete loved traveling — from a day trip to a hot springs or a road trip across the country, to a trek in Nepal and anything in between. He was friendly, funny, and had the gift of gab; he made new friends everywhere he went.In 1984, he married Brenda Desmond in Reed Point. They moved to Helena and then to Missoula, where their sons were born, in 1986 and 1991. They eventually separated but remained united coparents. Pete was very proud of his sons’ athletic, academic, and professional accomplishments and was most proud of what wonderful fathers they became.Pete thrived when studying art education at the University of Montana, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in art education in 1986. He excelled in studio classes and was creative and unconventional. For a class that required a teaching demonstration of how to make something, Pete rolled in ... (The Missoulian)