Charles “Chuck” Parrett, (‘Charlie’ to those who loved him), renowned hydrologist and devoted family man, passed away peacefully January 16, 2024 from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). A stoic all his life, he never complained about his illness, or really anything else, including MSU failing to make the college football championship again this year.
Like his parents before him, Charlie was born in Butte on July 26, 1945, and lived a hardscrabble life, growing up at the Four Mile (called ‘Hellsport’ at the time) out on Harrison Avenue. He remained lifelong friends with many of the kids he grew up with. After graduating Butte High in 1963, married his high school sweetheart, Bonnie Pettersen in 1966. He attended Montana Tech, taking a degree in Engineering Science in 1967. He went to graduate school in Bozeman, earning a master’s degree in civil engineering from his beloved alma mater, MSU in 1970, and then settled in Helena to raise a family. He worked briefly for the Montana Highway Department, and then the Department of Natural Resources before settling into his career at the US Geological Survey.
In his long tenure at USGS, he forged lifelong friendships with his colleagues, and with them developed equations for calculating debris flows and extraordinary flooding events still used by hydrologists today. In 2005, he was given a “Water Legend Award” by the AWRA for his outstanding and extensive contributions to surface-water hydrology. His colleague Eloise Kendy wrote at the time, “Anyone associated with water science or management in Montana has this in common: they know and respect Chuck and his contribution to the better management of Montana’s water resources.”
He was a respected scientist and mentor to many others, but he was also a devoted family man, friend, and community volunteer. All his life he connected with children on their level, perhaps because he never lost his own child-like fascination with the natural word, and his innocent trust that the universe was unfolding exactly as it was supposed to. He was a friend and mentor to many children and young people, and loved by all who knew him. He taught many kids to fish, or how to do math, or to read. While living for a time in California after retiring, he volunteered to teach English to immigrants.
Throughout his life he was an avid fly-fisherman, though because he was from Butte and a pragmatist, he was not too proud to use worms. He loved woodworking, reading, and puzzles of all sorts. He practiced moderation in every aspect of his life, though in his thirties he impressed all the neighborhood kids with his ability to guzzle a 16 oz. Pepsi in 3 seconds.
Admired by all who ever met him for his honesty, integrity, and steadfast ethical worldview, Chuck is survived by his wife Bonnie; his children Aaron (Nann) Parrett, and Wendy (Mike) Guevara; his grandchildren Mikanen Guevara, Wrenden Guevara, and Maizy Parrett; his brother Louis Parrett; and numerous cousins in Butte.
He was a good husband, father, brother, friend, and citizen. He will be missed.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Share
Mary Sark (McLees) says
Aaron , Wendy and family, I sadden to read about your father. My prayers are with you all.
Patty Ladd says
Chuck will be missed by many. His presence at our coffee clatch was always appreciated as he readily found answers to topics of discussion by consulting the internet via his phone. Unlike some of us old timers, he kept up with technology and was always a reliable source of information as well as providing good humor and wit in our conversations. He certainly made a difference in his life in so many ways. Sincere sympathy to his family.
Karen Dimmitt says
I was so saddened to hear if the passing of Chuck. My warm thoughts to Bonnie, Wendy, Aaron and Lou and the entire family. Many fond memories going back to Junior High Days in Butte. Alley Op, Timber Butte, 4- mile. Later memories in Helena., Including a reunion of almost all the old gang at my house. What a wonderful day that was. Much love to all . Chuck was definitely one of the good ones. May he rest in peace.💔
Barb Hamlin says
Chuck was a kind & honest man. He was such an inspiration to Jerry when Jerry asked for advice on water concerns that were complicated. We knew we could trust Chuck’s advice.
Chuck was a real sport, joining Bonnie, Jerry & I to a conference
In which he had NO interest. You will be missed friend.
Jeffrey Tiberi says
Chuck was a great neighbor. His wide variety of skill sets included building a cabin, building a playhouse, and figuring out how to move an old outhouse 10 miles up the hill beyond Rimini, along that narrow and winding path they call a road. His insight and calm demeanor were much admired and sought out. Rest in Peace, my friend. You made Montana a better place for us.
John Cherie Dahl says
Bonnie, our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. Several memories of when we lived on Cherry Street and you a few blocks up the street 😢🙏👋
Ronald R Shields says
Good friend, fellow Hydrologist and Christian brother. Blessings to the family. He will be missed.
Gary Fischer says
We lost a great man in Chuck. To me, he was a friend, mentor and hero. Always friendly, sincere, introspective and humble; but he was one of the most intelligent people I ever knew. I consider myself very fortunate for having worked with him on some projects while I was with DNRC in the 90’s when Chuck had already established his legacy at the USGS. Not to bore anyone with this, but he applied a highly sophisticated method of hydrologic statistical analysis to Montana rainfall data to basically revolutionize the way we analyze large storms in Montana. My relationship with him continued when he decided to become an adjunct professor at Carroll College to teach Hydrology to undergraduate students. I told the students that they were in the presence of greatness when they were in his class. We were both from Butte, but I did not know him until I moved to Helena in the late 80’s. I felt honored to call him friend. Never was I more honored than when he would call me to have coffee with him where we talked about teaching, work stuff, and life. He will be missed.
Pat Keim says
Chuck was a great neighbor for many years. He and Bonnie built a lovely home on Ten Mile Creek. When I asked if he was not worried about flooding at that location he replied no because he had studied the creek water flows at that location and the house would be safe. Over the years nature has proved that he knew hydrology very well. We shall miss him.
Peter McCarthy says
There are so many great memories and thoughts shared here about Chuck, and it’s hard to not repeat the same thoughts as others, about how great of a person Chuck was and how he impacted so many people in both his professional and personal life. Chuck hired me as a student intern at USGS in 2000 where he cultivated my interest in hydrology and hydraulics which convinced me to focus my engineering degree in H&H, change schools, and pursue a master’s degree. During Christmas break in 2003 I ran into Chuck in a grocery store and he asked me what I was doing, and if I was interested in working for USGS when I completed my schooling. Needless to say, I jumped at the opportunity to work for USGS and have a great mentor in Chuck Parrett. Even though he left Montana a few years later, Chuck continued to mentor me from California and help me succeed in my career. Recently I was interviewed for an internal USGS newsletter and when I was asked who my favorite or best mentor was I responded that it was Chuck Parrett. Chuck was patient, kind, humble, and overall a great person. As a colleague he was always interested in helping develop others and advance the science. Thank you Chuck for all of your mentoring and your friendship. I will miss you greatly.
Jo McLean says
Bonnie and family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief.
Curtis Larsen says
I was a lawyer working at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks in the 1990s when I met Chuck. In his capacity as a hydrologist at USGS, Chuck made stream flow calculations for all of the streams in the Missouri River basin. This was done in connection with FWP’s water reservation case in the Department of Natural Resources. I had the pleasure of working with Chuck in presenting his testimony in the administrative hearing. Chuck was a consummate professional, and kept his cool throughout some tough cross examination by opposing counsel. He was a great witness, and was one of the best people I met in my professional career.
D'An says
Wow, what sad news, Chuck was one of the most pleasant scientists to be around when he worked at the USGS CAWSC–my heart goes out to his family & friends. Rest well & bless your soul, Chuck.
Nancy Barth says
Dearest Bonnie and Family,
Chuck was such an amazing mentor and colleague. Chuck hired me as a M.S. student while he was at the USGS CAWSC and the research I did for my M.S. thesis literally changed the trajectory of my career. He always had an open-door policy to ask any statistical or flood frequency-related questions. He was always passionate about sharing his rich experience and humble opinions. He was soft spoken and knew so much about so many different topics. And I loved his common sayings, that incidentally I still use: “Is that explanation clear as mud?” or “I know enough [about coding] to be dangerous”. I always appreciated that people always expected to see Chuck when they saw me at different USGS trainings or conferences. It honestly felt a bit frightening when I came back to the USGS after Chuck encouraged me to go back to school to get my Ph.D., to not have Chuck nearby to get his perspectives. I recently relocated to Helena and had hoped to share so many things I’ve learned since returning back to the USGS. I am truly humbled to have had the once-in-a-lifetime chance to cross paths with such a personal inspiration that I found in Chuck.
Denise Pedersen says
I’m so sorry for the loss of your dad, husband , brother and uncle. He will be missed by many, Denise and Herman
Stan Jones says
In one of the previous tributes to Chuck, a friend and colleague of his said that he had told some of Chuck’s hydrology students that in Chuck’s class they were in the presence of greatness. Yes! When we consider Chuck’s vast accomplishments in his professional career as a scientist, most of us would heartily agree. And for those of us who knew Chuck outside his professional life (I have known Chuck for almost 50 years), we would add that Chuck’s greatness extends far beyond his professional life, extending to just about everything and everyone he touched over the years. I should add here that Chuck was a humble guy who didn’t think he was anything great, and he would push back against us saying so. But it was his humility and transparency and sense of humor that helped to make him such a great guy!
Chuck could do just about anything he set his mind to do. He mentored a whole lot of hydrologists and land managers, and gave them incredible analytical tools to help them improve the waters of many states. Meanwhile in his spare time he gutted and remodeled an old Victorian house, built a brand new house, built cabins, caught a lot of fish, helped a lot of neighbors, made a lot of friends, mentored children, helped the poor, spent time with people in nursing homes, and all-in-all made a lot of people’s lives a whole lot better (mine included … he helped me to navigate some difficult times in my life). All the while he loved and cherished his wife and raised some awesome kids.
There is a saying that, behind every great man is a great woman. That is especially true in Chuck’s case. Bonnie, you not only stood behind Chuck, you stood right there beside him, you lifted him up and you made it possible for him to become the great man he became. Our hearts go out to you and your family as you navigate this difficult time. We pray that God will heal you and prosper you as you enter this next chapter of your life.
Mike Roberts says
Though my exposure to Chuck was only professional, it was easy to see this was a great man beyond his hydrology Rock Stardom. I always appreciated that he made time for me when I solicited his advice, usually regarding some data representation issue. Tributes to his impact on Montana water resources and to his kindness and modesty is well documented in the previous comments, and well-deserved.
larry cawlfield says
I always enjoyed working with Chuck. He was always pleasant and helpful. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Rachel Moore says
Bonnie, I was so sorry to hear of Chuck’s passing. In reading all of these tributes to him, it seems absolutely typical of him that I had no idea of his status as a celebrated hydrologist, or even what his profession was. It has been quite a while since we were at your Ten Mile home, though I have vivid memories of it and how kind Chuck was. God bless you and family as you make your way through this next chapter.
Jenny Buchman Phelps says
I was lucky to encounter Chuck at this storytelling event, I thought you all might want to see it.
https://www.tellussomething.org/stories/2019/getting-away-with-it-helena/helena-getting-away-with-it-part-1/
Deb Oleynik says
Bonnie, Aaron, Wendy and all the Parrett family,
I am so sad to hear of Chuck’s passing.
The tributes here show that his kind spirit will live on not only in all of you but also in the hearts he touched along the way during his amazing life.
Sending big hugs and love.
Deb