Peter "Pete" Edward Radonich

Peter was born on October 1 in the Deer Lodger Valley to Anthony Radonich and Harriett Franklin Radonich. He was one of 8 children in the Radonich family, which ran a dairy farm. Pete attended grade school at the Lost Creek School. After the passing of his father Anthony the family moved into Anaconda and Peter started working on the smelter. In April 1943 Peter was inducted into the Army and assigned to the 118th Antiaircraft Gun Battalion. He was trained at Fort Irwin, CA and assigned to the European Campaign. He sailed for Europe on Christmas Day 1943 and was stationed in South London, England until the movement to participate in the European mainland invasion. He went ashore onto Omaha Beach in the second wave of the D-Day Operation, June 6, 1944 with an advance unit to secure an area for the 118th 90 mil AAA Guns. He served in events in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. He returned to the United States in December 1945 and arrived in Anaconda on Christmas Day. He went back to work on the smelter in 1946. In 1948 he moved to Los Angeles and attended West Coast University as a Diesel Mechanic graduating in 1949 returning to the smelter. On August 24, 1957, Peter married Helen Harrington at St. John the Evangelist Church in Butte. From this marriage were two sons, Michael and Paul. In 1964 he transferred to work as a diesel mechanic at the Berkley Pit in Butte. He advanced to shift boss and returned as shop foreman in July 1983 when the pit closed, and he retired. Pete was a member of the VFW, American Legion, FOE (Past President) BPOE Elks and the K of C (Past Grand Knight and Treasurer) and the Anaconda Catholic Community. Peter was awarded several medals for service in World War II including a Bronze Star at a special celebration at the Deer Lodge County Courthouse in 2015, 70 years after the war. He also was awarded the French "Chevalier (Knight) of the National Order of Legion of Honor" in 2018. He is survived by his wife of almost 63 years Helen, sons Michael (Keith) of Camarillo CA and Paul (Bonnie) of Great Falls, 7 grandchildren Emily (Josh) Granada Hills, CA, Julie, Stacey (Jonathan), Aaron, Kaitlyn (Nickolas), Taylor, Jaden of Great Falls, and 4 great-grandchildren; brother John (Carolyn) of Anaconda, sister Stella McDonald of Spokane WA, sisters-in-law Floss of Spokane, WA and Sandra of Anaconda, Helen's sister Margret Rosetti of Denver, CO, and numerous nephews, nieces, grands and greats. He is preceded in death by parents, brothers and sisters-in-law Maggie (Irvin), Tony (Ruth), Matt, Kate (Jim), Tom, Clyde McDonald, and grandson-in-law Matt Facto. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church on Friday, August 21, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. There will be one hour of visitation prior to the service at the church.

Visitation

AUG 21. 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM (MST)

Holy Family Catholic Church 217 W Pennsylvania AVe Anaconda, MT 59711

Mass of Christian Burial

AUG 21. 10:30 AM (MST)

Holy Family Catholic Church 217 W Pennsylvania AVe Anaconda, MT 59711