Peter Dirkmaat

1943 - 2015

Peter John Dirkmaat passed away suddenly Monday, Feb. 9, 2015, at his home in Shelley, after a courageous fight against cancer.

Pete was born March 19, 1943, in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands. He was the oldest child and only son of Peter Hendrick Dirkmaat and Alida Emo.

In 1948, the family immigrated to the United States, settling in Salt Lake City. Pete's mother suffered an untimely death in 1957, which had a profound effect on him and his three sisters. Later, his family moved to Southern Utah, and Pete attended Kanab High School and then graduated from Page, Ariz., High School in 1961. He worked on the Glen Canyon Dam project then under construction.

A month after his high school graduation, he married Toni Blackburn of Orderville, Utah; they later divorced in 1974.

Pete attended the University of Utah in 1963-64 then transferred to Long Beach State, where he received his electrical engineering degree in 1968. He joined the Atomic Energy Commission in Germantown, Md., in 1968, working in the Nuclear Safety Division. He began his nuclear training by attending night school at the University of Maryland. In 1969-70, the government sponsored his master's program in mechanical engineering at Stanford University. After this training, Pete began a 33-year career in Idaho working for the Department of Energy, retiring in 2003. He subsequently worked for several other nuclear firms until he retired fully in 2008.

On Valentine's Day 1975, Pete married Renee Hale. They were married for time and eternity in the Idaho Falls Temple a year later. The next year, 1976, Pete began building the new family home. Other than the concrete work, Pete and the family built the entire house without contractor assistance.

Renee and Pete served a full time mission in Suriname, South America. Suriname is the only Dutch-speaking country in South America. They were the only senior couple in Suriname. They had a marvelous 18 months in Suriname and appreciate all the members and young missionaries whom they worked with.

Pete enjoyed all his LDS Church assignments over the years. He particularly loved coaching the young men in basketball. He also coached the Shelley Grid Kids in football for 10 years. He also served as Elders Quorum president and high priest group leader in the Shelley Second Ward and also in the stake high council for 8 years.

He is survived by his three sisters, Tina (Bill) Penn of Fairfield Glade, Tenn., Sietske Johnstone of Page, Ariz., and Cathy (Walt) Judd of Ridgecrest, Calif.

Survivers include all of his children, Garn (LeeAnn) of Ammon, Jennifer (Merlin) Smith of Blackfoot, Nathan of Pasco, Wash., Dallan (Heather) of Brighton, Colo., Gerrit (Angela) of Spanish Fork, Utah, David of Pocatello and Bryant (Kymberlee) of Layton, Utah.

Pete was extremely proud of all his children and their accomplishments.

Pete is preceded in death by his father, mother and two stepmothers.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at Shelley Stake Center, 325 E. Locust St., with Bishop Terrell Hoskins conducting. There will be a viewing from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 11:30 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. Saturday prior to services, both times at the church. Interment will be in Shelley Hillcrest Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Nalder Funeral Home in Shelley.

Pete and his family express great appreciation for the care provided by the Teton Cancer Institute, Dr. Brad Adams and others that provided for his care.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.nalderfuneralhome.com.