Orville Thomas "Pete" Whitely, a veteran of "The Greater Generation", passed away November 19, 2006 at Custer Community Hospital, a facility he helped established over 40 years ago.

Pete, as he preferred to be called, was born September 14, 1918 in Mills, Nebraska and after spending his youth growing up on small farms throughout the area, graduated from Gregory High School. As a son of the depression, Pete was stoic and unassuming, was always ready to take on any formidable challenge and had a profound sense of duty to his family, friends, community and country.

Thus it was that shortly after his marriage to his sweetheart, Wilma Jean O'Connor in December 1941, he dutifully went off to war. Like most of the veterans of his generation, Pete seldom spoke of, nor asked any glory for his heroic war service. But, in his later years he did speak with particular pride of his 3 ½ year stint on the Battleship U.S.S. Colorado and, specifically, of one assignment involving the search for Amelia Earhart and Captain Noonan.

After serving four years in the Marines and almost four more in the Army, including duty in the Okinawa campaign, Pete returned home to Custer to raise a family and help his parents run the family business, Bill's Grocery. Pete and Jean eventually purchased the business and operated it for many years while, at the same time, Pete served on the Custer City Council and later was elected Mayor.

It was during this time in the late sixties that Pete led the campaign to procure a hospital for Custer. Succeeding in that, he then lent his talents to the construction of the facility and, later, both he and Jean worked in the hospital for many years. In 1979, having successfully raised their family, Pete and Jean set out on a new adventure, moving to lake Havasu, Arizona.

There, they both worked in the hospital for many years until retirement. Even though they both loved the climate, their home and their many friends in Arizona, they looked forward each spring to returning to the Black Hills, where Pete flourished building birdhouses, tending his amazing garden and amusing friends with his warm sense of humor. So it was that this past spring, Pete and Jean left their Lake Havasu home for the last time, returning to their real home in Custer, just in time for Pete to enjoy one last summer with the people and the beautiful hills he loved so much. We are so thankful to have had the opportunity to spend that time with him.

Pete is survive by his wife of 65 years, Jean Whitley; four children, Wilma Whitley of Englewood, CO; Margaret French and her husband, Bruce of Custer, SD; Jim Whitley of Ft. Smith, MT; Fred Whitley of Rapid City, SD; two sisters, Lucille Homan of Sturgis, SD; Betty Floyd and her husband, John of Scottsbluff, NE and a host of nieces and nephews.

Pete was preceded in death by his father, William Walter Whitley; his mothers, Elsie Bartlett and Eva B. Whitley; four brothers and a sister and Jean's parents, Fred and Darlymond O'Connor.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Tuesday, November 21, 2006 at McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Custer, SD.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 am, Wednesday, November 22, 2006 at McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Custer, SD with Pastor Bill Savery officiating. Interment will follow at the Custer Cemetery in Custer, SD, with military honors provided by the Custer Honor Guard.

A memorial has been established in Pete's name to benefit the Custer Regional Hospital in Custer, SD.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Custer, SD. Written condolences can be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.