Warren "Pete" White

Warren “Pete” White, age 86, of Yankton, South Dakota, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at his home. Funeral services are 10:30 AM, on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at First United Methodist Church in Yankton with Reverend Ron Johnson officiating. Burial will be in the Yankton Cemetery. Visitation is from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, on Friday, September 6 at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. Visitation resumes one hour prior to the funeral at the church. Pallbearers are Jerome Sorbel, John Boden, Greg Kappel, Bob Kappel, Dale Tjarks, Herb Bollig. Warren Milton White was born December 31, 1932 near Oscar, Oklahoma to Grady and Erma (Rouark) White. He grew up on a ranch near Tishomingo, Oklahoma and graduated from Tishomingo High School. Pete then attended Murray State College in Tishomingo. He transferred to Oklahoma State and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater in 1956. Then, on September 10, 1954, Pete married Patricia Banks in Stillwater. After their marriage, they lived in Lawton where Pete worked for the Oklahoma Health Department as a Bacteriologist for two years. In 1958, Pete began his long career as a fishery biologist for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. He served in Oklahoma, Alabama, Kansas, Michigan, South Dakota, Utah, and finally in North Dakota where he retired in 1989. After retirement, Pete and Pat moved back to Yankton, SD. Never a pair to rest too long, they opened the Iron Springs Country Store near Yankton, SD in the early 90s where Pete turned out furniture and Pat sold it until 1997. Pete could not escape the pull of his Oklahoma roots and a warmer climate so they moved back to Lawton in 1998 and spent 20 years there. In August of 2018, Pete and Pat moved back to Yankton to be closer to their family. Pete loved the outdoors and being surrounded by nature. He loved hunting, fishing, woodworking, knife making and occasionally playing cards and board games. Pete also loved trivia and rarely missed an episode of Jeopardy. He enjoyed music, square dancing and collecting all sorts of “treasures”. Pete was a true gentleman who taught his children the value of working hard and caring for others. Above all, Pete loved his family and cherished the time spent together. Pete is survived by his wife of nearly 65 years, Pat White of Yankton; three children: Milton (Julene) White of Rapid City, SD, Shar (Mark) Peterson of Yankton, and Trina White (Michelle Jones) of Sacramento, CA; and many other loving family members and friends. Pete was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Bob and Bill White. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 207 W 11^th Street, Yankton SD 57078.