We got there late Friday night. Saturday we went up to Priest Lake. Some went up to a special place of Grandpa's and spread his ashes and shared stories of his life. I got to meet some more of the Pettit family which is always fun...they are a lively bunch.
Sunday we hung out back in Post Falls, and then said our goodbyes and headed home around 2:00pm. We had a good trip home minus about 10 potty stops for Gunnar. While it was annoying it is a HUGE accomplishment. Bedtime and car rides are about Gunnar's biggest hindrances as far as the potty goes. He was peeing his pants almost EVERY time he got in the car no matter what distance the trip (even 5 minutes) up until last week. So making a trip of about 6 hours in the car with only one potty accident is a HUGE achievement.
Gunnar playing with his Great Uncle Harlin
Albert M. Pettit
(January 18, 1929 - September 14, 2011)
Albert M. Pettit of Priest River, Idaho passed
away Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at home with family after a long
battle against cancer.
Born in Menahga, Minnesota, January 18, 1929 to Charles Albert Pettit
and Signa Lydia Burkman (Pettit), Albert was the second oldest of a
large farming family with 12 children. Albert first arrived in Priest
River in 1948 at the age of 19, entrusted with the responsibility of
ensuring that most of the Pettit siblings (minus Melvin the oldest and
some girls) arrived safely by train in Priest River after a long ride
from Minnesota. Strangers on the train noticed the large group of
children traveling together and although handouts were offered, family
pride would not allow Albert to accept or allow any of the siblings to
accept anything without working for it. Arriving in Priest River the
group then traveled to the Kerr Ranch located north of Nordman, Idaho.
Here they were welcomed by Aunts and Uncles and later joined by their
father and mother and the girls who drove the family automobile to Idaho
via Highway 2 from Minnesota. Albert frequently reminisced about life at the Kerr Ranch, hunting, fishing and helping build what is now the Nordman Store. He also talked about growing up on the farm in Minnesota. Riding to school during the winter in a the back of a old truck converted into a school bus that was heated with a potbelly stove, and the difficulty trying to keep the fire lit while bouncing down the road. Always smiling while talking about stopping by his cousins houses on the way home from school because “you could always get something good to eat”. When asked how long he went to school, his answer was that he went to the eighth grade (in the front door and out the back); always finishing with the fact that working to help support the family was more important than going to school back in those days.
Albert joined the Army in 1951 during the Korean War, but unlike his brother-in-law Richard McGee (married to his sister Hazel) who deployed to Korea, he spent his Army enlistment as a Tanker/Gunner stationed stateside at Camp Cook, California. He was honorably discharge as a Corporal in 1953.
After a memorable courtship, in 1953 Albert married Sheila A. Faust of Noxon, Montana. Initially they resided at the Kerr ranch with the rest of the family; it was during these times it was mentioned that “Grandma Pettit would cook a quarter of a deer each meal to feed the number of people living on the Kerr ranch”. Nobody can explain how this feat was accomplished using a wood stove and cast iron skillets, guess you had to be there. Albert and Sheila moved many times throughout the Northwest while raising their five children to ensure necessities were met and they were. Although Albert was not always able to express his feelings due to his upbringing, on many occasions mentioned to those closest to him that Sheila was the only one that could ever be in his life. He went on to become a respected member of the Logging community. Being one of the founding members of the original Pettit Logging Crew, everyone knew than if able and given the chance, he would have worked alongside his brothers forever. Throughout the years Albert taught those around him the importance of working hard, taking care of machinery, being safe and loving the job. He also taught his “six is six” (we never really figured out what that meant) approach of conducting ones self and the importance of working hard at everything you do. After many years, the original Pettit Logging Crew disbanded, but Albert continued to work in the woods until he was 74 years old. He often mentioning that the most memorable and satisfying job he ever had was working one-on-one with his nephew Donald Pettit Jr.
Albert loved the outdoors, always looking forward to prospecting and hunting season. Finding Gold or filling a tag was not as important as just driving around, supervising over the dredge, camping or walking around for hours with family just talking about how life was, how it is, but never saying “I should have” or “I wish it were different”. At times it seemed as if we were not hunting or prospecting at all, but cruising Timber looking for the next load of “Pickles” to saw down. He did manage to plant the Gold bug in many of us, especially his son Ken and Grandsons Tony and Andrew.
Albert is survived his wife, Sheila, four sons, Harvin (spouse Tina and Grandsons Levi, Michael); Harlin (Grandson Harold, spouse April Great Granddaughter Katlin and Great Grandson Duncan); Army MSG (Retired) Michel (spouse Laura), Granddaughter Leah, spouse Joseph, Great Grandsons Dylan and Kolby and Great Granddaughters Alysa, Grandson Army Specialist Albert “Kyle”, spouse Elisabeth, Great Grandsons Gunnar and Ryker, Granddaughter Megan, Grandson Shawn and Grandson Caleb; son Kenneth (spouse Lucinda) and his only daughter Cheryl (spouse Kevin and Grandsons Anthony (Tony) and Andrew. Albert is also survived by Brothers Melvin, Donald, Roy and Sisters Deloris, Hazel, Arlene and Juanita.
Albert is preceded in death by his Father Charles Albert Pettit, Mother Signa Lydia Burkman (Pettit), Brothers- Ervin, Harry, Earl and Sister- Clara The Pettit family would like to give a special thank you to the following for all their help and support during a very difficult time in our lives. Daughter Cheryl and son Kennith for being the strong ones and being there through everything. Andy from Hospice Care, Barb Adkins – Family friend / respite care and Phyllis Stoats- night Nurse, we are truly in your debt. We will always love and truly miss you Brother/Dad/Grandpa.
No comments:
Post a Comment