Nellie 'Bobbie' Pettys

Nellie “Bobbie” Pettys, 90, died peacefully at her home in High Gate Assisted Living Community September 11, 2014. Bobbie was born in Hopkinton, MA to Joseph & Nellie Bancroft. She was the oldest of 5 children. Bobbie met & fell in love with a young, wild Army soldier in the early 1940’s named Harold “Sarge” Petty’s, whom she lovingly called “Red”. She & Red were married July 22, 1945 in Natick, Mass. Their life together in the Army took them near & far, including Germany & Iceland. In 1961 Sarge & Bobbie, along with their 2 girls, Diane & Bonny moved to Bozeman where Sarge retired from the Army while on assignment to the ROTC department at Montana State University. After he retired from the Army, Sarge worked for the Bozeman Police Department as well as being Chief of the Montana State University Police. During that time Bobbie enjoyed working at Bungalow Drug & the University Photo Lab. They loved the outdoors & spent part of their retirement travelling the country in their RV. When they finally settled down, Bobbie loved golfing & taking care of her lawns. You could find her most every day pushing that mower around the property, everyone tried to get her to switch to a riding mower but she wouldn’t hear of it & continued mowing well into her 70’s because she enjoyed it so much. Bobbie is preceded in death by Sarge, her beloved husband of 52 years, her parents, Joe & Nellie, her brothers, Bill & Boo, as well as her daughter Bonny. Bobbie is survived by her sisters, Jitts Murphy of Hopkinton, MA, Izzy Pynn of FL, daughter Diane Funk of Helena, MT, son in law, Jim Finch & his wife, Cynthia of Billings, MT; grandchildren: Bill Finch & his wife Sue of Sealy, TX, Bonny Portwood & her husband Duane of Marietta, GA, Keifer “Dave” Lewis & his wife Amy of Onalaska, WA, Gary Hanke & Robert Hanke. As well as many terrific great grandkids that she adored. Cremation has taken place with no memorial service to be held at the request of Bobbie. Dahl Funeral Chapel in Bozeman is handling all arrangements. In lieu of flowers please make donations in memory of Bobbie to; Warriors & Quiet Waters, 1087 Stoneridge Dr., Suite 1 Bozeman, MT 59718 We hope you are finding some time to enjoy some golf with Papa but understand that Heaven probably has a lot of lawns for you to mow. We love & miss you Nana! Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.dahlcares.com