Peter Andrew "Pete" Beaudette

RAPID CITY - Peter Andrew (Pete) Beaudette, 74, of Rapid City passed away on Sun., Dec. 30, 2007 at Fountain Springs Healthcare in Rapid City. He was born in Hayward, Wisconsin on June 3, 1933 to Romeo A. and Gretchen (Mayer) Beaudette. He grew up in Menomonee and Chippewa Falls, Wis. and in Mankato, Minnesota. He graduated from Loyola Catholic High School in Mankato in 1951. After the deaths of his parents within 6 weeks of each other, he enlisted in the U. S. Army and served in Germany and France from 1952 to 1955. After his honorable discharge, he moved to Rapid City to live with his brother, Bob and family. He was employed in construction jobs and helped to build his parish church, Blessed Sacrament. He was devoted to his Catholic faith and to his family. He met and fell in love with Dorothy Heisinger and they married on Sept. 1, 1956 in Rapid City. He enrolled in and attended Mankato State College and they lived there until 1960 when they moved back to Rapid City. He and Dot were then blessed with the births of their children, David, Gretchen, and Daniel, all born in Rapid City. Pete will be remembered as a gentle and kind man, and as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and a loyal brother and friend. He was accepting of others, warts and all. Pete was employed much of his life as an automobile salesman and Sales Manager at Rushmore Volkswagen, winning trips and awards for his sales and customer service abilities. After retiring from that career, he spent several years as a rental car agent and courtesy van driver at McKie Ford, where he volunteered for Blood Drives and other activities. He received many "Thank You" notes and cards from clients who were appreciative of his sincerity and kindness in dealing with them. He enjoyed golf, fishing, hunting, bicycling, walking, running, and in his younger years boating, camping, water skiing, playing football and softball. He was a wonderful dancer and enjoyed listening to jazz and big band music. He and Dot liked to travel and spent time in Arizona and Texas with children and grandchildren, whenever possible. Many family auto trips were taken while the children were growing up. The trips were fun and adventurous, on rafting trips, beaches and sightseeing trips. Summer visits with the Kennedy family at the cabin in Spearfish Canyon were special to him, as was time spent in Colorado Springs and the Grand Tetons with the Tom Beaudette family, and many happy times with the Bob Beaudette family. Pete was a fan of Nascar racing and was able to attend races at Phoenix Raceway, twice riding in the pace car. He and Dot enjoyed several cruises to Caribbean areas and to the Islands of Hawaii, always meeting wonderful people. He had a great sense of humor, and was amused when giving his last name which has the same pronunciation as Tom Bodett of Motel 6 fame. He was often asked if he was related to that person and since he did have a brother named Tom, he would have fun with it. He was proud of his Leinenkugel heritage. His great grandfather, Jacob Leinenkugel, was the founder of Leinenkugel Brewing Co. in Chippewa Falls, Wis., and his grandmother was the President of the Brewing Co. for many years. Numerous mischievous summers were spent at his grandmother's cabin at the lake with his brothers and cousins, in his boyhood years. Time with family was precious to him. He helped his sons with their Boy Scout projects and could be found cheering them, and their sister, on in their various activities. His grandchildren were a great source of pride to him and he loved attending their athletic and school activities, as well as playing basketball, softball, bicycling, and running with them. He and Dot were fortunate to have been a part of the Riverdell Drive family before the devastating flood of 1972. They and their children remained a part of the family with an annual golf and social event, the "Riverdell Open" for many years. Pete and Dot's home was always open to nieces and nephews, family, friends, and Japanese students and teachers from Akabori Middle School. They enjoyed his special pancake or French toast breakfasts and streusel coffeecake. Pancakes were often made with freshly picked raspberries from the backyard patch. Rhubarb custard pie was another of his specialties. Survivors include his wife and loving caregiver, Dorothy, of Rapid City; son, David (Maria), of Flower Mound,Tx.; daughter, Gretchen (Tim) Burke of Rapid City; and son, Dan (Lynn) of Mesa, Az. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren: Anna Marie Beaudette, Rachelle (Burke) Williams, Elizabeth Burke, Daniel James (D.J.); MacKenzie (Mac), and Karley Beaudette; great-granddaughter, Maci Marie Williams; as well as stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren. Other survivors include his brother, Tom and wife, Patricia, of Colorado Springs, Co. and their family. He is also survived by brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, as well as many nieces and nephews and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Bob; sister, Helene Thomas; and numerous relatives. He fought a courageous battle against NPH and dementia, which was doubly cruel to him because of his remarkable ability to remember faces and names of people over the years, even if he hadn't seen them for long spans of time. But his faith in God, and the love and support of family and friends gave him strength. Pete's family thanks John and Cathy Soder, Ron and Joanne, and other friends and extended family for their loving concern during his illness. Pete was welcomed into heaven by many of the Riverdell gang who have preceded him into eternal life. They are doing the Olympic marathon walk together and sharing jokes, laughter, hugs, and a "Leinie" or two. Visitation will be at Blessed Sacrament Church on Thurs. Jan 3, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A Christian Wake Service and Rosary will begin at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be on Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church with Father Andrzej Wyrostek as celebrant. Mass will be followed by a luncheon at the church. According to Pete's wishes, cremation will take place after the funeral and inurnment will be at 10am on Mon. Jan. 7, at Black Hills National Cemetery with military graveside rites. A memorial has been established to Hospice of the Hills, Canyon Lake Senior Center, and Storybook Island. Friends may sign Peter's online guestbook at www.kirkfuneral home.com. Kirk Funeral Home of Rapid City is in charge of the arrangements. "We love you Pete. You will be forever in our hearts."
This obituary was originally published in the Rapid City Journal.