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News you can use
Havre Daily News/Nikki Carlson
Blaine County Undersheriff Pat Pyette's family members embrace his daughter-in-law, Jessica Pyette, and wife, Terri Pyette, while his son, Kristopher Pyette, hugs his children, Tristan and Taylor Pyette, during the undersheriff's funeral Monday at the Chinook High School gymnasium. Pat Pyette died Wednesday in the line of duty.
The Blaine County undersheriff who died in the line of duty last week was remembered Monday as a stern man but a man with a sense of humor.
Pat Pyette was remembered as a man who lived to serve others and was committed to his local, state and national community, and cherished the time he spent with his family.
Hundreds gathered in the Chinook High School gymnasium Monday to pay their last respects to Undersheriff Pat Pyette, who died Wednesday from injuries sustained when struck by a vehicle while directing traffic around a broken-down tractor-trailer along U. S. Highway 2 east of Chinook.
Chinook City Judge Perry Miller told the crowd filling the gymnasium that he would be a liar to say he was happy to be speaking at the funeral; he was, however, honored. When asked by Pyette's wife, Terri, and son, Kristopher, to speak, he said he gave the Pat Pyette canned answer.
"Yes, " Miller said.
Havre Daily News/Nikki Carlson
Hundreds of law enforcement officials, family, friends and loved ones pay their respects to Blaine County Undersherrif Pat Pyette Monday during Pyette's funeral service in the Chinook High School gymnasium.
He told Terri, Kristopher and his wife, Jessica, and their children, Tristan and Taylor, "You were the light of his life. The love, respect and delight he had in each of you was unmatched. "
"As he spoke of each of you, you couldn't help but notice the gleam in his eye and the overwhelming love in his voice, " Miller added.
He said the same was true of all of Pyette's family, brothers and sisters, cousins, nieces, nephews — he cherished the time spent with them, Miller said.
"He was a little like Santa Claus, " Miller said. "He kept track of all of you, and he loved all of you. "
Pyette also had great affection for Sheriff Glenn Heustis and the deputies in the Blaine County Sheriff's Office, Miller said.
"He loved the camaraderie he shared with each of you, and he was proud of each of you, " Miller said. "Although I know he chewed your butts regularly, he was proud to be a part of your lives and that you were a part of his life. "
Miller extended his condolences to the law enforcement and emergency services representatives from around the United States and Canada who came to the funeral.
"Fellow law enforcement officers, we all share your pain today, and we all thank you for what you do, " he said. "Like Pat, you protect and serve every day … not knowing what each shift will bring. "
Chinook Police Chief Mark Weber offered his memories and a promise of support to Terri Pyette, and his thanks for her staying beside a man of the military and of law enforcement.
"You cannot prepare for this. Nothing ever does, " he said. "We can never repay you. All I can promise is, I know you're sad, hurting, scared of the future — I can speak for the fellow law enforcement officers and lot of people in this community. You're never going to be alone. We'll be there. "
Havre Daily News/Nikki Carlson
The Montana Highway Patrol gives a 21-gun salute to Blaine County Undersheriff Pat Pyette during Pyette's burial service Monday in Kuper Memorial Cemetery in Chinook. Pyette died Wednesday in the line of duty.
Weber said the only time he and Pyette ever seemed to have harsh words was over their departments — but, he added, that showed the forgiving side of Pyette.
"We'd exchange our words — Pat always got the last word in because he could frame things as only a master sergeant could — we would walk away calmly, but I learned very soon that the next time I saw Pat — whether it was five minutes or five days later — it was all forgotten.
"His words usually were, 'Lets grab coffee. We've got some hunting to talk about, '" Weber said.
He said people worried about how they might have left things with Pyette should remember his forgiving side.
"Don't carry any baggage around. Just forget about it, " the way Pyette did, Weber said.
He also reminisced about some humorous times spent with Pyette.
Havre Daily News/Nikki Carlson
Blaine County Commissioner Vic Miller, center, gives Blaine County Undersheriff Pat Pyette a salute Monday as Pyette's casket is carried to the graveside by Blaine County Sheriff Glenn Huestis and Blaine County deputies at Kuper Memorial Cemetery in Chinook.
"Working with Pat was really a treat, most of the time. You never knew quite what you were going to get into, " Weber said.
He said, a couple of years ago, he and Pyette were overseeing some training exercises for line officers when Pyette was called out by the dispatcher, then came back and flagged Weber to come talk to him. Pyette said he needed help with an animal control issue a few miles east of Chinook, and Weber said, "Sure. "
"Somewhere just before Harlem, I asked Pat exactly how far east this was going to be.
"'Hogeland, ' was the answer. "
Weber said he then asked what kind of animal call this was — a woman's "got moose in her garden and we've got to get them out of there, " Pyette answered.
After chasing three moose around the woman's large garden, including an orchard garden — Weber said he started beating a pipe on an old garbage can lid, but still couldn't get the moose moving in the right direction — he realized something.
"I was doing this myself, and then when I finally did get the moose headed out in the right direction, and I came around the corner, and here's Pat taking pictures.
"I said, 'Pat you going to help here, or what? ' 'Well, no, this is the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. '"
He said once they finally did get the moose moving across the prairie, Pyette suggested they go to Turner for lunch because he hadn't been there for quite some time.
"And, of course, I bought because he figured I owed him for getting (me) out of class, " Weber said.
He said just being friends with Pyette also was an adventure. Pyette volunteered for everything, and volunteered his friends, too. But the same was true for his friends.
"I asked him for a little design idea on a horse shelter, and he built it for me. That's just the way Pat was. Others were always first, and it was always fun, " Weber said.
"Pat was a community leader who loved life, family, and always put others before himself, " he added. "Pat, really, what I have to tell these people is, you always led by example. You made me a better man I thank you for that. I miss you, buddy. "
Miller said if he were asked to describe Pyette in five words or less, "I would tell you this: amazing, one-of-a-kind.
"Because he was everything that you could ask for in a good Christian person: faithful, honest, trustworthy, loyal, dedicated, committed, " Miller said. "He loved God, his family, his community and his country. He treated everyone he met with the same respect and dignity, regardless of whom they were or whatever the circumstances. He loved his job, and he loved helping people. …
"Pat, we love you. We miss you. Until we meet again, brother. "
Havre Daily News/Nikki Carlson
Blaine County Sheriff Glenn Huestis, left, presents a folded American flag to Kristopher Pyette, as Pyette's mother, Terri, watches at Blaine County Undersheriff Pat Pyette's burial service at Kuper Memorial Cemetery Monday in Chinook. Pat Pyette died Wednesday in the line of duty.
An early morning fog still shrouded Chinook as hundreds gathered in the Chinook High School gymnasium to remember, honor and bid farewell to a law enforcement officer killed last week in the line of duty.
The family and friends of Blaine County Undersheriff Pat Pyette were joined by representatives of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, and emergency service organizations from throughout Montana and out of state, including representatives from Canada, as well as local and state government, during his funeral service and graveside service at Kuper Cemetery.
Pyette died from injuries sustained when a vehicle struck him on U. S. Highway 2 east of Chinook Wednesday about 5 p. m. while he was directing traffic around a broken-down tractor-trailer.
Representatives of the Blaine County Sheriff's Office joined Pyette's family in the reserved section in chairs strung out on the floor of the gymnasium.
Members of city police departments, sheriff's offices, fire departments, ambulance services and tribal police departments from around Montana — and other states — filed in to help fill almost all of the other seating on the floor. They were joined by representatives of other state agencies including Fish, Wildlife and Parks and federal agencies including the U. S. Border Patrol, Bureau of Reclamation and Bureau of Indian Affairs and a contingent of Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The public servants came in for over nearly 30 minutes to be seated behind the family, while still others sat with people to fill the bleachers in the gymnasium.
The funeral Mass was officiated by the Rev. Jose Valliparambil of St. Gabriel's Catholic Church in Chinook, where a fellowship luncheon was held after the funeral and graveside service.
Valliparambil offered condolences to Pyette's family, friends and fellow officers during the Mass.
"We are gathered here today to honor Pat, to pay our respect, and celebrate our memories of Pat, fallen in the line of duty, " Valliparambil said. "Words cannot express our sorrow. It all the more saddens us that Pat left us in this festive time of Christmas.
"But we gather courage to pray, to entrust Pat to God, his creator, " Valliparambil added.
Chinook City Judge Perry Miller and Chinook Chief of Police Mark Weber eulogized Pyette. Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger read the proclamation by Gov. Brian Schweitzer dated Monday ordering flags on state property to be flown at half-staff in Pyette's honor.
The people in attendance were asked to take buses provided to transport them to the graveside services, due to a lack of parking to accommodate that group's vehicles in addition to the law enforcement vehicles.
A string of nearly 100 law enforcement, emergency service and government agency vehicles, lights flashing, escorted Pyette's family and the hearse carrying his body, along with his prized Chevrolet Corvette, to Kuper Memorial Cemetery east of town for the burial rites.
The graveside service included taps, a 21-gun salute, the flag over the casket being folded and given to Blaine County Sheriff Glenn Huestis to present to Pyette's wife, Terri, and another flag presented to his son, Kristopher.
At the end of the service a Blaine County Sheriff's Office dispatcher ordered a moment of radio silence, then gave him a benediction on the airwaves.
"We cherish his dedication and service to the people of Blaine County and the people of Montana, " the dispatcher said on the airwaves.
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