Peter John "Pete" Viano

Peter John "Pete" Viano, 84, passed away on Thursday, April 22, 2010 at WEL-Life in Kalispell. He was born on Nov. 25, 1925 in Kalispell, the son of Gaston and Mary (Zadra) Viano.

The second of two children, he received his primary education in a one-room school house near the current West Valley School site.

Pete's grandfather Viano emigrated from Italy and homesteaded west of Kalispell before buying land on Rhodes Draw in 1902. Pete's father was the last to farm the land, but it was a heritage that Pete did not want to lose, so he purchased his beloved farm in 1961. It remains in the family to this day.

Pete's mother, a native of the valley, was born in 1891. She greeted the first train that came to Kalispell in the late 1890s.

Pete worked several jobs before starting a 36-year career as a switchman and brakeman for Great Northern Railroad in 1949. He retired in 1985 from what had become the Burlington Northern Railroad.

Pete married Kathryn "Kay" Greco in 1946. They were married for 61 years before her death in 2007. They had three children, Ron, Larry and Debbie.

Pete loved the Flathead Valley and the many friends he had here. Over the years, he and Kay enjoyed trips in the U.S., Mexico and Europe, as well as several winters in Yuma, Ariz., with many of these friends.

Pete really enjoyed sharing stories about the "old days' and was always ready for a good game of pinochle. So it was fitting that he spent his last day with family and also playing one final card game with friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife and his parents. He is survived by his sons Ron Viano and his wife Nancy of Boise, Idaho, and Larry Viano and his wife Cindy of Kalispell; his daughter Debbie Sprague and her husband Michael of Boise, Idaho; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; his sister Della Spindler of Plains, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Pete were Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at Johnson - Gloschat Funeral Home with Fred Topp officiating. Visitation was Tuesday, April 27, 2010 followed by a Rosary. Burial followed services at Glacier Memorial Gardens.

The family requests memorials be given to the families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy at www.fsma.org or 925 Busse Rd., Elk Grove Village, IL 60007.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Pete's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and view Pete's tribute wall.