Pete John Hanges

Pete John Hanges went home to be with the Lord on December 10, 2015 at his home in Chandler, Arizona. Pete was born on October 12, 1929 in Paul, Idaho. He was the third child of John Pete Hanges and Fay Coline Bailey. As a boy, Pete grew up around the Pocatello area and at the age of 6 years old he lost his father in a logging accident and moved to California with his mother. He later moved back to Idaho and worked on farms in the Shoshone area. After joining the Army at seventeen, he was assigned to Sugamo prison, which housed Japan's highest ranking military officers. Pete was honorably discharged in 1949 and was soon married to Velda Betty. Pete and Velda had 8 children together; John Lester Hanges (deceased), Tommy Hanges (deceased), Evelyn (Wayne) Galbreath, Arizona, Sandra (Tom) Johansen, Pocatello, Pete Jay Hanges (deceased), Nancy Day, Pocatello, Michael James Hanges, California, and Julie (Dan) Austin, Pocatello. Pete raised his children with character and strength even though he never had a father to raise him. He later married Audrey Christensen and was divorced a few years later. He met the love of his life, Ruth Wardwell, and married her in 1975. Ruth had 4 children; Bradford (Maggie) Thompson, North Carolina, Jennifer (David) Haney, Utah, Douglas (Amanda) Thompson, Arizona, and Stephen Thompson (deceased). They purchased the old Charolais Ranch and moved their now ten children to Inkom. Pete spent many years rebuilding the ranch and named it Diamond H Ranch. They had team roping and other events and later built a race track for boarders to exercise their horses. They also had a horse tack business named Diamond H Product and built beautiful horse gear and Chariot Harnesses. He also owned a Non Destructive Testing business named Diamond H Testing. Pete was a well-known name in that trade. Pete had 32 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Pete and Ruth sold the ranch and moved to Texas, and later to Hawaii. After many years of hard work he moved to Arizona to retire. He enjoyed tinkering in his shop building beautiful metal crosses and various ornamental iron. Pete enjoyed showing Bassett hounds and Irish setters and also racing horses and chariot racing. He was strong in his faith. As an ordained minister, he enjoyed performing marriages for his family and friends. Pete had a love for hunting and fishing and would take his family camping in a blue school bus that was converted to a camper. Pete always had a wise word or story to tell. He could hold a crowd when he spoke of his life experiences. Pete was a man of many talents and was loved by many people. He had a lot of health issues throughout his years and was always so strong and would pull through these health issues. Pete was known to have 9 lives. He was always a true trooper. Pete lost his wife, Ruth, in 2014 and lived with his daughter, Evelyn and Wayne Galbreath, in Arizona until his death. He fought his last bout of cancer for a couple of years and finally went to heaven to meet his creator and be with his family. He was preceded in death by his sons, Tommy, John and Pete Hanges; his mother and father, John and Fay Hanges; his wife, Velda and wife, Ruth. To say he was a great man would be an injustice. He was more than that. Pete was a man of honor, of integrity, and love. Not afraid and not alone. May he rest in peace. Memorial services will be held at 12:00 PM on Monday, December 28, 2015 at Colonial Funeral Home, 2005 S. 4th Ave, Pocatello, Idaho 83201, with a dinner to follow to share in the memories of his life. Memorial contributions may be made to the Idaho Veterans Assistance League East. Donations can be mailed or brought in person to "Idaho Veterans Home, 1957 Alvin Ricken Dr, Pocatello, ID 83201 to support our local veterans at the Idaho State Veterans Home. The family will also have a donation box at the funeral home for your convenience. Condolences can be made to the family online at www.colonial-funeralhome.com

Memorial Service

12/28/2015 12:00



Lava Hot Springs Community Center

150 N. Center Street

Lava Hot Springs

Idaho

83246