Wallis 'Pete' Moore, 91

Wallis "Pete" Moore, 91, passed away May 13, 2011, at his home in Rathdrum. He was born Aug. 27, 1919, in Forbes, N.D., to Fred and Minnie Moore, the 12th of 13 children.

He graduated from Cyrus High School, Cyrus, Minn., in 1938. He attended the University of Minnesota in Morris, Minn., until drafted in 1943. He was sent to France with the 424th Regiment of the 106th Infantry in the U.S. Army. That winter was the worst recorded in 100 years and two-thirds of his division were killed or froze to death in the Battle of the Bulge. When Germany surrendered, Pete volunteered for the South Pacific. His troop ship was just days from the Panama Canal when Japan surrendered. He was deployed to the Pentagon, where he worked in Communications.

Pete was accomplished in many occupations. He farmed, sheared sheep and trained horses in the Midwest. When he moved to the Northwest he worked in St. Maries and Coeur d'Alene saw mills.

While employed at Diamond National he met and married Martha Wilson on Aug. 16, 1966. Shortly after the marriage, they moved to Eltopia, Wash., where he was employed by the irrigation district. He retired from the district in 1984 and they moved to Kahlotus, Wash., where they resided until Martha's death in 2004. He moved to Rathdrum to live with his grandson and great-grandsons.

Pete loved to hunt, fish and boat. He got his last deer at the age of 90. He liked watching baseball with his great-grandson Justin and bird hunting with Jacob.

Pete is survived by his sister Mildred Sielig of St. Maries; grandson Jeffrey Dennison; great-grandsons Jacob and Justin; numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.