August 25, 1921 – May 16, 2013

Peter A. Welk, 91, of Bend, Beaverton and Wasco, Ore., died peacefully in his sleep May, 16, 2013.

He was born Aug. 25, 1921 in Berwick, N.D., to Frank and Catherine Schall Welk.

After the deaths of both parents when he was very young, he moved to Oregon with many of his brothers and sisters.

After Pearl Harbor, he joined the Navy. He served in the 133rd U.S. Naval Construction Battalion, ”The Seabees” on many Pacific Islands including Iwo Jima.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he worked with his in-laws, John and Mae Fulton, on the family farm in Wasco.

He moved to Beaverton in 1963. He worked for Gunderson Brothers and FMC until his retirement in 1986. After moving to Bend, he went to work for Sun Forest Construction until he retired again at the age of 87.

During the last few years of his life he spent much of his time back in Wasco, on the farm.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Fulton Welk, Bend; and daughter, Christie Welk, Wasco. He is also survived by sisters, Dorothy Hanley of Portland and Aggie Fields of Spokane; a son from a previous marriage, Rodney Welk; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Frank, Freddie and Clem Welk, and his sisters, Barbara Sitter, Becky Wallace, Mary Ann Kongslie and Bea O’Meara Macnab.

A graveside service was held Friday, May 24 at Sun Rise Cemetery in Wasco.

A memorial Celebration of Life is planned 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at the Touchmark River Lodge, 19855 SW Touchmark Way, Bend.

Memorials may be made to Sherman County Historical Society, P.O. Box 173, Moro, OR 97039; or Wasco Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 155 Wasco, OR 97065. An online guest book is available at

www.niswonger-reynolds.com