LaRoy 'Pete' Peters age 90, of Sioux Falls, SD, passed away January 25, 2021.

LaRoy J 'Pete' Peters was born on February 13 1930 in Marathon IA to Benjamin and Selma (Selland) Peters. LaRoy grew up in Sioux Falls with his five sisters after moving there with his parents when he was two. As a youngster, he had a knack for collecting things to make into other things and fix others.

He graduated from Washington high school in 1949 with an emphasis in drafting and woodworking. He loved geometry and was hired to create maps for the county while in school. As a teenager he would visit the train yard where his dad worked and even operate one of the engines sometimes, his dad called him 'Bo'.

Pete joined the Naval Reserve in 1947 and served in the Seabees for 15 years, learning extensive construction fundamentals and techniques. He also served on ships sent to bases at Pearl Harbor, Nova Scotia, New York, among other places around the world.

In 1950 Pete began work with Northern States Power Company. He was Garage Forman for 35 years. He set up a fleet maintenance plan and invented devices to improve the equipment throughout his career before retiring in 1985.

LaRoy married Adeline Monen on Jan 23 1954, built his own home and lived there together for 67 years. After retiring, LaRoy and Adeline enjoyed traveling throughout the United States visiting their family and relatives while tracing genealogy.

He is survived by Adeline and their 3 children; Monte (Tanya), Jon (Kate), and Jane Williams, 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, his 4 sisters; Dorothy, Shirley, Marleen, and Eileen and preceded by his parents and sister Betty.

'Dad' was devoted to his entire extended family, and to the church. He was a quiet man who found joy in designing, making and improving things helpful for someone or meaningful to community. Always happy to share his talents in service to others whenever he could.

There seemed to be no job too big or too small, or person above or below his kindness, from teaching how to tie your shoes to installing safety bars in your bathroom. He fixed cars, built a shop and houses, made inventions for work and home, monumental crosses and furnishings for Abiding Savior Free Lutheran Church and an 86-foot A-frame pillar bridge built with the Boy Scouts and more…so amazing….

God was his inspiration, he humbly found joy in giving of God's gifts to him, Glory Be to God!