04/03/2018 - Ira 'Pete' Owens

Ira Benjamin Owens, better known as “Pete”, 80 years old of Chadron, NE died March 27^th, 2018, at Chadron Community Hospital in Chadron, NE. Funeral services will be held at the Enemy Swim Community Center in Enemy Swim, SD at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 4^th with Cahill Funeral Home, Sisseton, SD in charge of arrangements. Interment will follow at St. James Episcopal Church Cemetery (Enemy Swim). Pete’s family will also be having a one-night wake service the evening of April 3^rd at 7:00 p.m. at the Enemy Swim Community Center.

Pete was born August 8, 1937 to Benjamin Rondell Owens and Adelle (Keeble) Owens in Sisseton, SD. He was one of seven children born to Ben and Adelle. He attended schools in Wakpala, SD and Center, NE, graduating in 1955. Pete was an amazing man. He was the high school class valedictorian and was also known to be a really good basketball player. In fact, he was an all-state basketball honoree. After graduating in 1955, he joined the army and was honorably discharged 4 years later.

When he returned from Korea, he was assigned as an army recruiting officer in Omaha, NE. Shortly thereafter in 1961, the car accident happened. He was home in Santee, NE visiting relatives when he confronted a life-changing event. From the car accident, Pete suffered a traumatic brain injury and partial paralysis that affected the left side of his body. The accident resulted in Pete being confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his natural life. From 1961until her death in 1964, Ira’s mother, Adelle Keeble Owens took care of him with the help of her youngest daughter, Mary Huxhold.

Pete’s injuries at such a young age meant that he would never have an opportunity to marry and raise a family. However, he did have a tiospaye who provided him with many nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. For example, starting in 1964, his younger sister, Phyllis Owens Pettie, became his main caregiver until her death in 2008. She took care of him for 44 years and in this time, her children became his beloved nephews and niece and were the children he never had. In 2008, his niece, LuAnn Pettie Werdel became his caregiver until his death.

Survivors include his uncle, Franklin Keeble of Grenville, SD; Aunt Inez M. Owens-Clay (Hank) of Maryland, sister Mary A. Huxhold (Tom) of Phoenix, AZ, nephew Kenneth M. Pettie (Linda) of Fargo, ND; nephew Keith A. Pettie (Kirsten) of Fargo, ND; niece LuAnn Pettie Werdel (Ron) of Chadron, NE; nephew John R. DuMarce (Donna) of Chadron, NE; nephew Brian T. Huxhold (Arielle) of Nashville, TN; nephew Everett Keeble, cousin Dennis Keeble of Sisseton, SD and other numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his father, Ben Owens, mother, Adelle (Keeble) Owens, brothers Orville Owens and Ralph Keeble, and sisters Ruth Owens, Phyllis Owens Pettie and Audrey Owens, and his Uncle Gordon Kitto and Aunt Cecelia Kitto of Santee, NE., who helped raise him during his high school years.

Flowers and cards may be sent to Cahill Funeral Home of Sisseton, SD and donations in his memory to St. James Episcopal Church of Enemy Swim, SD for the upkeep of the church and cemetery grounds.

A special thank you to his private nurse for the last 10 years of his life, Joanne Canaday of Chadron, NE.

Pall bearers: Kenneth Pettie, Keith Pettie, Ty Werdel, Shelby Keeble, Colton Pettie, Leonard Owens, Randy Boucher, Dallas Boucher

Honorary Pall bearers: Franklin Keeble, Inez Owens Clay, Mary Huxhold, Lee Pettie, Ron Werdel, LuAnn Pettie-Werdel, John R. Du Marce, Everett Keeble, Brian Huxhold, Tom Huxhold, Alex Hemminger, Dennis Keeble, Kaycee Werdel, Alan Kitto, Imogene Kitto, Cora Kitto-Jones, Curtis Kitto, Jeff Kitto, Ben Kitto, Lorraine Wolfvoice, Aurelia Louie, Lois Owens, Ellen Owens Hauser, Grace Owens, Arlene Owens, Annette Blackthunder and William Owens.