Argile "Beeler" Pettit

Celebration of life services for Argile “Beeler” Pettit, will be Saturday, June 10, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Sunshine Grille in Palmer, Alaska. Further services will be held Saturday, August 5, 2023, at 11:00 AM at the Lone Rock Shelter House in Lone Rock, Iowa with Military Honors conducted by Kerr-Hammerstrom American Legion.

Argile “Beeler” Eugene Pettit, the son of Woodrow “Puggy” Pettit and Margaret “Bett” Householder Pettit, was born April 4, 1940. Argile attended Lone Rock School. On the night of January 16, 1957, Argile and several others were in Algona at the Star Roller Skating Rink; there was a gas explosion and, as the newspaper reported, Argile Pettit, 16, of Lone Rock suffered the severest injuries: he had a depressed skull fracture and other injuries. In May of 1958, he was among the first class from the new three combined schools to graduate from Sentral of Fenton.

After graduation, Argile worked on road construction. He later enlisted in the United States Air Force in May of 1959. He was able to travel to many countries. Argile was honorably discharged in October 1962. He always said, “I am going back to Europe when Uncle Sam isn’t paying my way.” And he did. Argile worked on road construction again and then in 1975 he chose to enlist in the Army because he wanted to get signal training. Argile was stationed in Alaska all two years. He was honorably discharged from Fort Richardson, Alaska in 1977 and chose to make Alaska his home.

In Alaska, Argile worked on road construction once again. In 1989, he took time off and worked on the Exxon Valdez oil spill, then went back to road work again.

He enjoyed fishing and hunting. Their Dad taught them how to shoot and all four of the Pettit brothers were marksmen in their respective services.

Beeler loved prospecting in the mountains. He did not want to be known as a miner. When the snow was still up in the mountains, he would park his pickup at Scott’s and walk the rest of the way and little by little as the snow melted, he could drive further up the mountain, so he didn’t have to walk so far to get to his claims. He was getting slower going up the to the mines and so he said, “I was Knighted?” When asked “What was your title?” he said, “Sure rest a lot.”

Argile passed away December 11, 2022, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer, Alaska at the age of 82.

Argile is survived by two brothers and two sisters: Bernard “Butch” Pettit and his wife Margie of Buckeye, AZ, Gail “Susie” Person and her husband John of Lone Rock, IA, Peggy Preston of Fenton, IA, and Richard “Roscoe” or “Amos” Pettit of Lone Rock, IA, and many nieces, nephews, and especially cousins Carol Anglen and Gene and Marcia Hanna, forever friends Dennis and Judy Schmidt, Alfred and Peggy Schadendorf and many others.

Also surviving in Alaska are his forever friends, Rodney and Carol Priebe and their families, Jo and Mike Weller and their families, Scott and Gail Eubanks and family and Mrs. Beverly Mark Anthony and her late husband Leo and their family and other friends and co-workers.

Argile is preceded in death by his parents Bett and Puggy Pettit, his brother James “Jake” Pettit, his brother-in-law Wayne Preston and two nephews Barry Preston and Donald Pettit.

Beeler loved Alaska and he had always said, “When I die, I want to be cremated and then spread my ashes in Alaska and that way I will be up here the next 500 years”. But we are bringing some back so we can have a little of him in Iowa too!

Oakcrest Funeral Services of Algona, Iowa is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com