Peter L. Fauske, 78

Peter L. Fauske lived in the Flathead Valley all of his life, born in Whitefish as the youngest of five siblings to Peter and Cecilia Fauske on Sept. 14 in 1934.

He started working on the railroad when he was 16 years old repairing tracks, and retired at the age of 63 as a conductor.

Pete was an active member of the Whitefish community through Meals on Wheels and other senior center outreaches and events. He and his beloved wife of 58 years, Ardella, were Senior King and Queen of the 2005 Whitefish Winter Carnival, and Pete was Senior of the Month in May 2002 and April 2004, as well as Senior of the Year in 2004.

Pete volunteered for many years at North Valley Baptist Church in Columbia Falls, as well. He was involved with Human Therapy on Horseback, took many schoolchildren fishing, and taught them to make their own birdhouses.

Pete was a self-made man, a snowmobiler, horseman, hunter and artist. There was nothing Pete couldn’t carve out of a lump of wood.

He was quite passionate for his grandchildren, even to the very end. He loved to spend time with them in his wood shop, or just sitting on the floor playing with them. His lap was their favorite place.

Pete spread the love of hunting and the outdoors to all his children, and made time to take his kids out, no matter how long he’d been working. No one could weave a better story, true or not-so-true. No fish ever really got away.

Peter L. Fauske passed on Jan. 13, 2013, after a long battle with cancer.

He is survived by the love of his life, Ardella; his daughter, Leaona; his sons, Steven and Dean; his sister, Jessie; and a multitude of grand- and great-grandchildren; and many other beloved family members and friends.

Services are to be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at North Valley Baptist Church, 1750 Talbot Road in Columbia Falls.

You are invited to go to www.austinfh.com to offer condolences, share memories and view Pete’s tribute wall. Arrangements are entrusted to Austin Funeral Home.