On Saturday, April 25, 2015, David Arthur Petek peacefully slipped away from us due to heart and kidney failure. He was blessed to have been surrounded by family and friends during his hospitalization, and he was with his wife when he passed.
Dave was born on December 18, 1938, in East Helena, MT. He was the ninth of ten children to Peter (Jr.) and Mary (Ward) Petek. He attended grade school in East Helena and later attended Helena High School. The Petek family has deep ties to East Helena and Dave was always proud of those roots.
Dave helped out on the family farm (now the east end of the Helena Regional Airport), helped his father with the many side businesses he had going over the years, as well as a few odd jobs around East Helena, including at Schiller’s Service Station. He joined the Montana Army National Guard in 1955 and was in the Reserves (he was a mess sergeant on drill weekends for many years) as well as working full-time for the Guard in Publications and later Maintenance Units until his retirement in April of 1992 as a First Sergeant. David also bartended at the Glass Slipper for many years, until he decided full-time retirement was just more fun.
Dave married Judy Dahl in 1959, and had two children, Mary Anne and David C., but later divorced. He married Sharon Burton in 1967, and had one son, Jeffrey, as well as adopting Sharon’s two sons, Joseph and Ronald, but also later divorced.
On September 2, 1994, Dave married Marilynn (Sigety) Novak, and was promptly adopted by this large, close-knit family that welcomed him as one of their own. Dave and Marilyn spent their retirement years traveling, RVing and spending winters at their home-away-from-home in Quartzite, AZ. Dave loved tending to his orchard (all four trees) when they were down south.
Dave enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, playing cards, doing word puzzles, and reading. He especially enjoyed his many years at hunting camp with the Nordahl clan and other friends.
David was a member of the Montana National Guard Enlisted Association, a lifetime member of the Montana National Guard Service Club, and the Moose Lodge. He was a long-time member of the East Helena Rodeo Association and served on its Board of Directors. At rodeo time for many years he was in charge of bringing the barrels in and out of the arena for the barrel racing event.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his siblings Maxine, Irene, Fred, and Laverne (Tiny). He is survived by siblings Pearl Griffith, Freda Estes, Peter (Catherine) Petek III, Jessie (Hugh) Hallmark and Sharon Davis, his children Dave (Jan), Mary Anne (Tim) Mailloux, Jeff, step children Joe (Linda), Ron (Ling Lan), Lander (Tami) Novak, Lynne (Gary) Green, Johnette (Chad) Burman, 10 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, numerous extended family and special friends Rodger & Sheila Nordahl, Dorothy Nordahl, and their entire families who were always part of “Uncle Dave’s” life.
A celebration of David’s life will be from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Monday, May 4th at the Fort Harrison Service Club. Memorials in David’s name are suggested to the East Helena Rodeo Association, PO Box 458, East Helena, MT 59635 or to an organization of the donor’s choice. Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of David.
He will be missed, but he’ll be getting back to us on that.
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
1:00 pm to 4:00pm
Monday May 4, 2015
Service Club
Fort Harrison , Montana
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
1:00 pm to 4:00pm
Monday May 4, 2015
Service Club
Fort Harrison , Montana
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Diane Jackson says
Marilynn and family,
So sorry for your loss. You all are in our thoughts and prayers.
Judy Gardner says
Marilyn, I am so sorry to read of your husband’s passing. It will be rough but you, with God’s help, will make it through the hectic days ahead and the loneliness that follows. I will be there for you whenever you want to talk. You are in my prayers.
Matt & Mary Kunnary says
Dear Marilyn and family, Matt & I were so very sorry to hear of your loss. Dave is now is a much better place with the rest of his family and friends.
God bless you. Our prayers are with you and family.
If you need any assistance, please let us know.
Matt & Mary
Leon and Marsha Belville says
Mary Ann, Dave, Marilyn and Families’, Leon and I are saddened to hear of Dave’s passing.
You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Marsha and Leon