Memorial services for 64-year old Billy Petty of Chadron, NE, are Sat, March 19, 2022 at 3:00 at Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home in Oshkosh, NE, with Brenda Tophoj, PMA, presiding.
Services will be streamed live and available to watch after the service on the Holechek-Bondegard Facebook page (www.facebook.com/hbfunerals)
In accordance with Billy’s wishes, cremation has taken place.
Online condolences may be left at Bondegardfunerals.com or chamberlainchapel.com.
A memorial has been established and donations may be sent in care of Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337.
William “Billy” Lee Petty was born in Oshkosh on March 13, 1957, and passed away on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Chadron.
Billy was the first child born to Bill and Donna Dee Petty and attended Oshkosh Grade School. He graduated from Garden County High School in 1975, then attended Northwest Community College in Powell, WY, on a Speech Scholarship and continued his education in Kearney, NE, at Kearney State College, now the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
Most of Billy’s career was spent in the oil fields of Alaska as a Safety Specialist. He loved his job and his life in Alaska. Billy’s daughter, Makenzy, was born in 1997 in Anchorage, AK, and soon after, the family moved to Belle Fouche, SD. After a few years, the family moved to, and made their permanent home in, Chadron. Billy continued to work in the oil fields until he retired in 2020.
Billy had a passion for motorcycles, starting with a Honda 90 and finally realizing his dream of owning a Harley Davidson, which he rode everywhere. On one particularly memorable trip, he drove his Harley down the ALCAN Highway from Anchorage to Denver – 3,200 miles. Although he enjoyed the trip south; he shipped his Harley back and flew home.
No matter where in the world Billy went or lived, he never met a stranger; everyone was Billy’s friend and once his friend, he was resolutely loyal and would do anything for you.
If you needed a plane ticket, he gave you his frequent flier miles. If you were having a bad day and he knew, you would get flowers or a note of encouragement. If he saw something that reminded him of you, it would arrive in the mail.
He loved to talk on the phone with ALL of his friends and it was one of the things at which he excelled. Solving the world’s problems in a phone call, reminiscing about speech tournaments, the hayfield, or other moments, both humorous and important to him, was something that made Billy happy. Later in his life, he became very interested in writing poetry, which he often shared in his calls.
Billy met Dee Ann Wiese when they both attended Northwest Community College. After many years of living their separate lives with marriages, children, and life experiences, they met again and married on May 13, 2020.
Billy is survived by his wife Dee of Chadron, his daughter Makenzy, the light of his life, also of Chadron, his sisters Jo Lynn (Jim) Blackwell of Highlands Ranch, CO and Jeffie (Terry) Krauter of Oshkosh, stepmother Jean Petty of Oshkosh, aunt Dolores Koeppen of Lewellen and numerous cousins, family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Donna Petty, his grandparents Lee and Velva Mumford, William and Jeffie Petty and numerous aunts and uncles.
Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home in Oshkosh and Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron have assisted the Petty family with arrangements for Billy Petty.
I always looked forward to Bill coming into the post office, ALWAYS a smile on his face and a story to tell!!! And he was generous with his delicious canned goods! He will be missed! The family is in my thoughts and prayers.