After a long, remarkable, productive life, Harold “Pete” Godtland died peacefully at the age of 95 in the loving embrace of three of his daughters. Pete Godtland was a pillar of the Butte community and dedicated his time and talents to many city projects including the Mother Lode Theatre renovation, the Spirit of the Columbia Gardens Carousel construction, the Food Bank, Gold Hill Church and he designed the entrance arches to Montana Tech, the World Museum of Mining, Stodden Park, and the Ulrich-Shotte Nature Trail.
Pete was born September 20, 1925 in Butte Montana with his twin sister Anna, and the premature babies were born at home and placed on the door of a woodstove for warmth. Parents Ole and Ragna Godtland both immigrated from Norway, met in Montana, and had two other sons, Ralph and Palmer. The family was proud of their Norwegian heritage, ate traditional Norwegian foods and spoke Norwegian at home. In 1936, the Godtland family helped build the Gold Hill Lutheran Church, a spiritual home that Pete attended all his life. The church was an important part of his life, as he met his beloved wife Carol Christman there, sang in the church choir, and dedicated many hours in service of the church and congregation.
The Godtland household with very musical and mother Ragna played the guitar while the children sang along in Norwegian. Pete took piano lessons, but eventually took up the trumpet, which was chosen to help push in his buck teeth. He excelled on the trumpet and played in both band and orchestra, playing first chair in both during his senior year.
Pete was drafted into the army in 1944 at the age of 18, fresh out of high school. He was sent to Okinawa and fought in often harrowing combat until World War II ended. Afterwards, he was recruited to play in the army band, but since there wasn’t a need for trumpets he was asked if he could play baritone, to which he quickly agreed, even though he hadn’t studied it before. The rest of his service time was with the band, touring in Korea, playing for troop parades and officers dances, and working as the music librarian for the band.
When Pete returned from the war he decided to go to college on the G.I. Bill. Since he wouldn’t be home until after classes started, his sister Anna signed him up. Because Pete was so artistic, his sister decided to sign him up for architecture. It was a field that he loved and he used his artistic talents in so many ways. During college at Montana State he continue to play music, often playing in dance bands.
After graduating, Pete, Eldron Moyle, and Charles Kestle all worked together as architects for the Anaconda Company. After two years, Pete decided to go out on his own and became a self-employed architect. He designed offices, schools, houses, nursing homes, roofs, churches, jails, and playgrounds all throughout southwestern Montana. Pete also did volunteer work with many Butte projects, including the Archives Building, the Carousel Museum, the Mining Museum, the Mother Lode Theatre, and many others. Several family and friends had beautiful, stylish, functional homes designed by him too.
After graduating and returning to Butte, Pete continue to play music, and in 1950 was one of the founding members of the Butte Symphony. After playing French horn for 65 continuous years, the Butte Symphony organization established a Concert Master Chair in his honor. Pete continued to play French horn until he passed, and he was also Grand Marshal representing the orchestra in the Fourth of July parade in 2013 with Ruth Rotondi and Luis Milan. He also played in the Butte Community Band for many years.
Pete and Carol were engaged on Valentines Day, married September 12,1954, and celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary last year. Carol was also a musician, and they passed their love of music along to their daughters with piano and string lessons, singing in the children’s church choir, playing in the high school orchestra, and the Butte Symphony. That legacy has continued into the next generation of grandchildren singing in choirs and playing musical instruments trumpet, piano, violin, viola, and harp.
Artistic and creative, Pete was always crafting something and his love a Butte was often reflected in his artwork. Copper was among one of his favorite mediums and was incorporated in many of his pieces, including a gallery of framed historical figures and wire sculptures. Painting was a pastime he enjoyed, especially on rocks and canvas that depicted scenes of old Butte mines. He liked clay sculpting and designed a commemorative plate in honor of the original Columbia Gardens, as well as several others. Pete loved mining Montana sapphires and learn to facet the gems, crafting them into jewelry for family and friends and incorporating them into small wire trees.
Pete was a true patriot and proud of his country. Later in his life he became active in local veterans organizations and played taps on his trumpet for dozens of veterans funerals, as well as at local cemeteries on Memorial Day and Veterans Day in all weather conditions. He was humbled to be part of the Big Sky Honor Flight to Washington DC in 2013. His love of service and music were part of that trip where he gallantly played his trumpet at an Honor Tour ceremony. He showed his love and respect for his fellow local soldiers by attending and playing “Taps” at memorial services and patriotic events. In March 2019, US Representative Greg Gianforte presented Pete with the Montana Congressional Veteran Commendation.
His friends and family remember Pete as being kind, generous, dignified, optimistic, smart, and funny. His quiet sense of humor made everyone laugh and his selfless service to the community is an example to everyone.
Pete and Carol had four daughters, Faith (husband Byron DeWaay, children Aaron and Kristin), Ruth (husband Tom Kosmalski), Susan (husband Larry Krause) and Naomi (husband Frank Barnes, children Breanna, Brittany and Bethany). He is preceded in death by wife Carol, parents Ole and Ragna, sister Anna and her husband Robert Nertney Sr., brother Ralph and his wife Charlotte, brother Palmer and his wives Bernice, Bernice, and Evelyn, and cousins Francis McDonald and Elmer Powell.
The Godtland Family wishes to express their gratitude for the excellent care given at Big Sky Senior Living and St James Hospital. Please send memorials to Gold Hill Lutheran Church, the Butte Symphony, and the United Veterans Council.
A memorial service celebrating Pete’s life will be held at 2pm on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at the Mother Lode Theatre, 316 West Park St. in Butte. Pete will be laid to rest along with his wife, Carol, at Mount Moriah Cemetery during a private graveside service with Military Honors.
Please visit below to offer a condolence or share a memory of Pete.
Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Pete and his family.
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
2:00 p.m.
Saturday June 26, 2021
Mother Lode Theatre
316 West Park St.
Butte, Montana 59701
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
2:00 p.m.
Saturday June 26, 2021
Mother Lode Theatre
316 West Park St.
Butte, Montana 59701
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Patricia Callaghan says
Deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Pete Godtland; we will miss his presence at Gold Hill Lutheran and in the concert halls of Butte.
Lenore A Rowling/Ouellette says
The Ouellette family is very saddened by the passing of Pete. He was always a great person as was Carol. The Veterans and the community will miss him. Our sympathy to Faith, Ruth, Susan and Naomi and families.
renae R bowman says
i met carol and pete when they would come to St James Heathcare. they were such great people i got to know.
i will miss seing hin eating and telling all of us stories
Ann Gilmore says
How fortunate I was to know Pete, a great man with a delightful sense of humor. It was a pleasure to work with him when the Montana Tech Arch was being built. We also worked together on the St, Timothy’s Summer Music Festival board and with the Butte Symphony. My late husband, Frank and I enjoyed the times we were with Pete and Carol. Pete left the world a better place and will be missed.
Sally Carlson says
Pete will be missed in many places around Butte for sure. Both Pete and Carol were special people at Gold Hill Lutheran Church where my parents and I got to know them and their family as time went by. Good people. My sympathy to Faith, Ruth, Susan and Naomi and their families. Peace be with you. Wonderful memories for those who knew them.
Jim Ayres says
Pete and Carol were a very nice couple and it was a great pleasure to work with Pete on the Carousel. He always showed tremendous patience working with a group that had a hard time deciding what they liked. It seemed every month he would present drawings of the previous months ideas only to find out there was a new idea or request. He would respond in a kind of exasperated way but would always come back with the new design. I believe he took great pride in seeing the finished building. He set a great example of how to live a life well. From everyone at the Carousel we express our greatest sympathies to the family
Connie Engle says
So sorry for your loss. Pete was an amazing gentleman and it was a pleasure knowing him. Prayers for his family.
Emma Arnesen og Ove Arnesen says
Relatives in Norway send our best memories. We all miss you and we are thinking of your nice stay at Gaustad, Skotterud Norway.
You had a good laughter and a mild humor. We send Peace of your Memory.
Marilyn Grinde Dues says
For many years I heard about Pete and Carol from my parents, Owen and Evelyn Grinde who were residents of Butte from 1939 to 1980 when they moved to their childhood home of Whitefish. My Dad, Owen, was a faithful worshipper at Gold Hill Lutheran Church while Mom, Evelyn, attended Immaculate Conception with me and my brothers Paul and Eric. Dad always held Pete in high esteem as he was the type of man who could do anything and was always so willing to take on a new challenge. His was a most beautiful obituary demonstrating not only his many talents but also the love that he showed his family and friends. Well done, kind and faithful servant.
Russell Bush says
Pete and I have been great friends ever since we were in the Butte High School Band where I first met him. Pete played the Trumpet and I played the Trombone. After WWII we went to college at Bozeman where we both played in the Band and Orchestra. We shared a living area for 4 years, where we had free rent in return for working one afternoon a week cleaning the house and shoveling snow as needed. When Pete married Carol, he brought her to my Berkeley, California home so I could meet her. Years later I went to Butte so Pete could meet my wife, Ann. Over the years when I was in Butte to see my family, I always looked up Pete and at the last Butte High School Reunion for our Class of 1944, we stayed at Pete and Carol’s home. I was saddened to hear about Pete’s passing. He will be missed.