Phillip Peter Pelster, son of John and Veronica (Buddecke) Pelster was born April 9, 1924 at Dalton, NE. He was baptized at Dalton and moved with his family to Elgin, NE at age four. Pete was confirmed at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Elgin, NE, attended St. Boniface Catholic School for 11 years, and graduated from Elgin High School in 1943.

On August 13, 1946, he was united in marriage to Mildred Ann Hupp at Rural St. John’s Catholic Church southwest of Clearwater, NE. The couple made their home on a ranch in the Beaver Valley west of Elgin, in Wheeler County. To this union 10 children were born.

Pete was a rancher, raising Black Angus commercial cattle. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Sandhills Cattle Association, St. Boniface Parish Council and was a president of the school board for Wheeler County District #3. He enjoyed his horses, cattle and watching Chicago Cubs baseball.

On Thursday, November 19, 2009, Pete died at Antelope Memorial Hospital in Neligh, NE at the age of 85.

Pete is survived by his wife Mildred of Elgin, 10 children: JoAnn (Jim) Penne of Oakdale; Dodi (Don) Bauer of Oakdale; Bonnie (Gary) Dinslage of Elgin; Phyllis (Dennis) Cleveland of Ewing; Bob (Janice) Pelster of Bartlett; Denny (Judy) Pelster of Burwell; Jeanine (Kurt) Saner of Dunning; Jeanette (Dave) Henn of Petersburg; Marcia (Bob) Redler of Milford; Ginni (Bill) Fangman of Petersburg; 35 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; brother: Florian Pelster of Kearney; sister: Lucille Jillson of Lincoln; sister-in-law: Alfreda Pelster; along with many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; great-grandson Kayson Lauridsen; six brothers: a brother in infancy, Jerome, LaVern, Maynard, Wilfrid and Raymond Pelster; four sisters: Esther Pelster, Laura Spieker; Irene Moser; and a sister in infancy.