Peter Bellender Sr. 86, longtime Morgan County resident, passed away Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at the Harmony Home in Ft. Morgan CO.  He was born November 18, 1935 in Goodrich CO.

He attended school in Brush CO.  He worked the sugar beets and other farm fields in the area.  He left school after completing the 8 ^th grade and at age 15, and went out on his own.

At age 19, Pete volunteered for the draft in 1955 and went into the U.S. Army.  He completed infantry training at Ft. Carson, CO., later going to France and was in the Motor Pool working as a heavy equipment operator.  He was discharged from the Army in 1957 and began worked in the oil fields and other various jobs.  He met and married the love of his life of 60 years, Veldonna on May 13,1959 in Casper, WY.  He worked several jobs after that until he started his own business Bellender's Welding Service in Ft. Morgan CO. for 24 years.  Pete and Vel enjoyed pulling their fifth wheel to Texas in the winter months to escape the cold.  They also enjoyed fishing and camping in the mountains in the summertime.  Pete was a proud American who put his flag outside every day.  He especially loved his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Brush.

Survivors include his children, Vicki Cross of Byers, CO. , Johnny (Robyn) Griess of Ogallala, NE., Janice (Ed) Rocha of Brush, CO., and Pete Jr. (Tara) Bellender of Hoyt, CO, five grandchildren, Chad, Tabitha, Tiffany, Sommer, and Skylyn; seven great grandchildren, Levi, Asashia, Eddie, Persephoniye, Atreya, Castiel, and Ella; and three great-great grandchildren; as well as three sisters, Helen Schott, Rosie Price, and Virginia Toepfer.

Pete was preceded in death by his wife Veldonna; his granddaughter, Heather Cross; his brother, Adam Bellender; sisters, Rosie Bellender, Mary Bauer, Katie Schwindt, Annie Slater, Gertrude Stratton, Molly Sack; and his parents, Adam and Katherine (Bathauer) Bellender.

Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be Friday, February 4 ^th , 2022 at 10:00 AM with the Mass of Christian Burial following at 10:30 AM at Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Brush. Inurnment will follow in the Brush Memorial Cemetery.