Peter R. Beaulieu, 56, of Libby

Peter Raymond “Pete” Beaulieu, 56, died unexpectedly at his home in Libby  Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012.  

Funeral will be 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 30, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Libby with rite of committal following at the City of Libby Cemetery.  

Arrangements are under the care of Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home.

Pete was born at Libby on Dec. 28, 1955, to Thomas and Virginia (Beccari) Beaulieu and attended Libby public schools, graduating from Libby High School in 1974.  

After graduation, he attended Flathead Valley Community College.  

A person of many skills and talents, he had a varied working career, working as a surveyor, EZ loader boat trailers in Spokane, Wash., as a cook for his brother Terry at Dusty’s, skidder operator, logging truck driver and millworker as well as working for Mountain Lion Bus Service in Missoula  and, for the past 20 years, as a partner and mechanic with Fritz Hansen at F C Auto in Libby.

In his younger years, he loved the outdoors, fishing, hiking, camping and exploring the woods on Ski Dale hill; his campfires were legendary, making his fellow outdoorsman “stand back.”  

His talents made Pete a gifted mechanic who could fix anything, and an artist who dabbled in making antler jewelry and carving.  

He spent many an hour in his garage puttering with his tools and visiting with his friends and relatives who would stop in to see him.   

Typical of Pete, the sign that hung on the garage wall said, “Cows may come and cows may go, but the bull in here goes on forever.”  

Pete was preceded in death by his father Thomas Beaulieu and his brother Terry Beaulieu.

Survivors include his mother Virginia; his brothers and their wives, James (Linda) Beaulieu of Hagerstown, Md.; Stephen Beaulieu of Bigfork; Patrick (Jean) Beaulieu  of Missoula; Vincent (Cindy) Beaulieu of Libby; Jules Beaulieu; Alan (Sally) Beaulieu of Whitefish; Sean (Vicki) Beaulieu of Missoula; his sister, Annette Beaulieu of Libby; his longtime friend and companion Danette Brossman Gregory and her children Shane and Celeste Gregory of Libby and was a  special “Grandpa Pete” to Celeste’s daughter Cora.  

Also surviving are numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.  

A gentle, caring and giving person who gave his time and energy to all who asked for help, Pete took care of his family who will greatly miss him.  

As Shane hugged grandma Virginia, he paid tribute saying, “Pete was the best man I ever knew; if I turn out to be half the man he was, I will be happy.”