Funeral Service for Ira B. "Pete" Owens, 80, of Chadron, NE will be held on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. at the Enemy Swim Community Center, Enemy Swim, SD with Fr. Conrad Ciesel and the Episcopal Lay Readers officiating. Pianist will be Billy Kohl. Pallbearers will be Kenneth Pettie, Keith Pettie, Ty Werdel, Shelby Keeble, Colton Pettie, Elijah Pettie, Leonard Owens, Everett Keeble, Randy Boucher, and Dallas Boucher. Honorary Pallbearers will be Franklin Keeble, Inez Owens- Clay, Mary Huxhold, Lee Pettie, Lauren Pettie, Ron Werdel, LuAnn Pettie-Werdel, John R. Du Marce, Brian Huxhold, Tom Huxhold, Alex Heminger, 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 Frazier, Arlene Owens, Annette Blackthunder, Julie Owens, Scott Hegerich, and William Owens. Interment will be in the St. James Episcopal Cemetery, Enemy Swim, SD. Military rites will be provided by the Woodrow Wilson Keeble American Legion Post #314. All night wake service will be held at the Enemy Swim Community Center, Enemy Swim, SD starting at 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, April 3, 2018. The Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD is in charge of arrangements.

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.

For Ira's obituary and online registry please visit www.cahillfuneralchapel.com