Debra Colleen "Pade" Peterson

Debra 'Pade' Colleen Peterson
December 5, 1959-June 3, 2021
Debra 'Pade' Peterson, 61, of Fort Benton, MT found eternal peace on Thursday, June 3rd, 2021 at
Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, UT. When she rode her heavenly Harley to that big concert
in the sky!
A memorial will be held at the United Methodist Church in Fort Benton on Saturday, June 19th at
3:00pm. Please join the family for a celebration of life at the Clubhouse Bar following the memorial.
Where we can share stories, snacks, beverages and have one final party with Pade.
Pade was born on December 5, 1959 in Moorehead, MN. The youngest daughter of Arthur
'Pete' and Shirley Peterson. Pade was their baby, then, and all the days of their lives. A Daddy's girl and
a sparkle in Mom's eye. The proud couple moved themselves and their 2 girls to Montana to be closer to
family when Pade was still very young.
She grew up doing the things that all Fort Benton kids do. Playing outside, chasing her big sister
Kathy around, loving animals and stealing beer from her Dad and only getting busted after an
unfortunate tricycle wreck. Incidents like this continued through high school, on slightly larger scales.
Pade was definitely the rebel of the 2 girls and kept her folks on their toes with many a sleepless nights.
In 1978 she graduated from Fort Benton High School and went on to pursue dreams that were bigger
than her small town had to offer.
In Pade's own words as found in an old scrapbook, 'Following graduation I attended 1 year of
college at EMC and 1 year at the U of M. My major was photojournalism After 2 years of schooling, I
re-evaluated my goals. I then moved to Colorado for a few months and decided Montana had too much
of my heart. I then moved to Missoula and worked for the county for the next 4 years.' While Pade was
attending school and during her stint for the county, it's our understanding that Pade's real education
during that time came on the back of a Harley Davidson, with her hair blowing in the wind. Headed to
every bonfire, party and concert in the greater Missoula area.
But a day came in 1983 when she had to say goodbye to her rough and rowdy Missoula crowd
and came back to her home in Fort Benton to help her parents and sister pursue a new family business
endeavor. They bought the Chouteau House Bar. It was the beginning of a new era.
Pade spent her days and nights camping at Tiber, the cabin at Shonkin, Neihart, and many
other locations around the area. She enjoyed boating and especially creating the big tethered up 'boat
club' at the coves at Tiber. She loved cards, pinochle with family and game night. She enjoyed the demo
derbies and ran in the Powder Puff, always making her father proud. Pade was an avid softball player
and a professional partier! She enjoyed all of the above activities with a large tight knit group of friends,
lovingly referred to as the goon crew.
The family ended up selling the bar in 1992. But that was not the event that ended up changing
Pade's life forever. On July 6, 1994, Pade gave birth to a baby girl, Kaelee Raelle. And with Kaelee, came
a whole new Pade. She took off her party hat and replaced it with a crown of pride for her little girl.
With focus, purpose and love, Pade acquired a new lifestyle. One built on a loving, stable home for her
and her daughter, where she could give Kaelee all the things a little girl needed. Consistency, discipline, a
great role model, a fun and creative household, and so much love.
She went out and found an office job and turned it into a career! Starting as the office manager
for Fort Benton Realty, she soon realized how much she enjoyed the business and continued her
education until obtaining her realtor's license in 1996. Because she enjoyed her job so much, she was
extremely hard working and dedicated. She truly loved finding the perfect home for her clients, thus
always doing the very best she could for them with dignity and honesty. Pade also picked up new
pastimes and hobbies. She enjoyed gardening and time in her yard. Spending time with her beloved
dog and cat. Goody sharing with her sister, Kathy. And, of course, wild antics with her BFF, Kylie.
While her career grew, so did her daughter. Into a young woman that Pade truly gushed pride
for- to anyone that would listen!! She was a kind, warm, selfless mother. She, on the daily, did anything
she could to help or lead Kaelee the best she knew how. Nothing in this world was ever close to bringing
her as much joy as Kaelee did. She set an example to her daughter of tolerance, compassion and
kindness. To stand for what you believe in, no matter the cost. To exude strength and command respect
while also showing understanding and empathy to others.
In Pade's last weeks, she was a true example of all these things. She showed courage and
strength in a way we'd never seen. Unimaginable hours of hope and then devastating set-backs.
Constant tests, tubes, scans, pokes, prods, broken bones, cancer, chemo, strokes Right up until the
end, after every catastrophic blow, when her tears would subside, she'd wipe them away- say something
clever and witty to make us laugh. And then we'd talk about what we were going to do when she got
home. Her sense of humor never faded. She never let us see a loss of hope. Never let us lose hope.
We are all better to have known you. We are stronger because of you. We will always miss your
humor and wit Your charisma and charm. Your absurd amount of hair. Your hard ass attitude that
somehow coexisted with your soft kindness and love. You are forever in our memories, forever in our
hearts. And if the day ever comes that we begin to believe this to be true and not some horrible
nightmare, we'll know you're forever watching over us. Lifting Kaelee up when she falls. And shining
down with your undying love and guidance from the heavens.
Pade was preceded in death by her amazing parents, Arthur (Pete) Peterson and Shirley (Flathers)
Peterson.
Pade is survived by her beautiful daughter, Kaelee Raelle Ferris (Logan Smith); sister, Kathy
Marie Olson; Niece, Callie Leigh Olson; Great Nephew, Leo James Arthur Andrews; And BFF Kylie
Daggett; Her dog Diesel; And her cat, Larry.
? Peace, Love and Rock n Roll ??