Peter Burkett

Peter “Pete” Ronald Burkett was born July 18, 1947, in Fall River, Mass.  He was the son of Harold Burkett and Helen Stadnik Burkett.  Pete grew up and graduated from high school in San Jose, Calif.
After high school Pete went into the military. He served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force working as a mechanical engineer on boilers and other equipment. After his retirement, Pete worked at the Army Depot in Sacramento, Calif., and then for AFN, the military radio and TV channel as a Broadcast Engineer. He lived in Colton, Calif.
Pete was united in marriage with Edith Ann Darden June 18, 2005, at the United Methodist Church in Murino Valley, Calif. Pete and Edie moved to South Dakota following Pete’s retirement and have lived here ever since. They enjoyed their home in rural Custer. They cruised to Hawaii, Panama, to the upper and lower Mississippi River and they took a train trip to Canada.   They enjoyed attending the Playhouse in Custer State Park and delivering Meals on Wheels in the community.
Pete loved trains! He had an HO model train setup in his basement and volunteered at the 1880 Train in Hill City, S.D., for two summers. Pete was a Ham Radio operator and examiner. He was active in the Ham Radio club and enjoyed teaching people about Ham radio.
Pete was an active member of the Custer Community Church, volunteering, singing in the choir and serving as council president for two years. Pete loved his God.
Pete was also a very active member of the Republican Party. He served in many capacities and was a delegate to the   Republican National Convention in 2022.
Pete was an outgoing, friendly man. He was very sociable and never had trouble talking with anyone. He told people about himself that “what you see is what you get.”
Pete died May 9, 2024, at the Hospice House in Rapid City, S.D. He was 76.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Helen.
Pete is lovingly survived by his wife, Edie; son, Ronald and Louise Burkett of Sacramento, Calif.; sister, Pam Pearson of Ft. Myers, Fla.; and his children, Peggy and Randy Applebaum of Elizabeth, Colo, Dan Perkins of Denver, Colo., and Cindy Fife of Denver, Colo.; and grandchildren, Amanda and Grayson Ridel of Denver; Melissa Fife of Denver; Kristy Applebaum of Denver  and Ryan Applebaum and Sara Labishacki of Denver.
Committal service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 15, at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, S.D.
Memorial services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 1, at Custer Community Church.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer, SD.