Billy Petty

Billy Petty, 64, passed away Friday, March 4, 2022 in Chadron, Nebraska.

Memorial Services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, March 19, 2022 at Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home in Oshkosh with Brenda Tophoj, PMA presiding.

Services will be streamed live and available to watch after the service on the Holechek-Bondegard Facebook page (www.facebook.com/hbfunerals).

In accordance with Billy’s wishes, cremation has taken place. 

Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home in Oshkosh is assisting the Petty family with local arrangements.

William “Billy” Lee Petty was born in Oshkosh, Nebraska on March 13, 1957.  He was the first child born to Bill and Donna Dee Petty.  Billy attended Oshkosh Grade School and graduated from Garden County High School in 1975.  He attended Northwest Community College in Powell, WY, on a Speech Scholarship and continued his education at Kearney State College in Kearney, NE.

Most of Billy’s career was spent in the oil fields of Alaska as a Safety Specialist.  He loved his job and his life in Alaska.  Billy’s daughter, Makenzy, was born in 1997 in Anchorage, AK and soon after, the family moved to Belle Fouche, SD.  After a few years, the family moved to, and made their permanent home in, Chadron, NE.  Billy continued to work in the oil fields until he retired in 2020.

Billy had a passion for motorcycles, starting with a Honda 90 and finally realizing his dream of owning a Harley Davidson; which he rode everywhere.  One particularly memorable trip was the one where he drove his Harley from Anchorage to Denver, 3,200 miles, down the ALCAN highway.  Although he enjoyed the trip south; he shipped his Harley back and flew home. 

No matter where in the world Billy went or lived, he never met a stranger; everyone was Billy’s friend.   Once his friend, he was resolutely loyal and would do anything for you.  If you needed a plane ticket, he gave you his frequent flyer miles.  If you were having a bad day and he knew, you would get flowers, or a note of encouragement.  If he saw something that reminded him of you, it would arrive in the mail.  He loved to talk on the phone with ALL of his friends and it was one of the things at which he excelled.  Solving the world’s problems in a phone call, reminiscing about speech tournaments, the hayfield, or other moments, both humorous and important to him, was something that made Billy happy.  Later in his life, he became very interested in writing poetry; which he often shared in his calls.

Billy met Dee Ann Wiese when they both attended Northwest Community College.  After many years of living their separate lives, marriages, children and life experiences, they met again and married on May 13, 2020.

Billy is survived by his wife Dee of Chadron, his daughter Makenzy, the light of his life, of Chadron, his sisters Jo Lynn (Jim) Blackwell of Highlands Ranch, CO and Jeffie (Terry) Krauter of Oshkosh, stepmother Jean Petty of Oshkosh, aunt Dolores Koeppen of Lewellen and numerous cousins, family members and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Donna Petty, his grandparents Lee and Velva Mumford, William and Jeffie Petty and numerous aunts and uncles.