Ivins, Utah - Lewis Mike Pettis passed away peacefully on October 2, 2022 in Ivins, Utah due to conditions incident to age and Alzheimer's disease.  He was 89 years old.

Mike was born September 27, 1933 in Sharon Springs, Kansas to Gordon F. Pettis and Gwendolyn Gailey Pettis.  He was the second of two children; having one older sister – Joan – who he always loved and admired.  As a child, Mike and his family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where he attended school and graduated from West High School.  On March 3, 1952 Mike enlisted in the United States Army and spent 3 years on active duty as a Field Artillery Operations and Intelligence Specialist, including serving in Korea during the war.  He was released from active military service with the rank of Sergeant on March 2, 1955 and transferred to the Army Reserve where he completed 8 years of service under the Universal Military Training and Service Act.  Mike received the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Army Occupation Medal (Germany).

After his service in Korea, Mike began his career at Amoco Oil Company in Salt Lake City and worked there for 38 years before retiring and moving to Enterprise, Utah to fulfill his dream of building a beautiful log cabin.  Many of his grandchildren have wonderful memories of helping Grandpa Mike build that cabin and of the countless camp-outs, dutch oven dinners, and hunting excursions that he was always willing to be a part of.  Mike has many close friends from his years at Amoco and from activities associated with his love of the outdoors; especially water fowl hunting and big game hunting.

Mike married Josephine Pauline Montrone in October 1954.  Mike and Josephine later divorced, but their union brought them 5 children, 13 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren so far.  Mike married Fran Smith in September 1992.  When they married, Mike gained 5 step-children and 11 grandchildren to love.  They now have an additional 17 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren.

When his Alzheimer's disease became too advanced to care for him at home, Mike moved to the Southern Utah Veterans Home in Ivins, UT. We are grateful for the loving care he received there over the past 5 ½ years. Mike is survived by his children: Jodie (Nick) Huntsman of St. George, UT; John (Michelle) Pettis of Hurricane, UT; Anna (Mark) Verrinder of Boise, ID; and Lew (Jenn) Pettis of Boise, ID; as well as his wife, Fran Pettis of West Valley City, UT.  He was preceded in death by son, Michael Pettis and sister, Joan Colburn.

Graveside services will be held Friday, October 28, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. at Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park, 17111 S. Camp Williams Rd., Bluffdale, UT 84065.

In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation in Mike Pettis's name to Southern Utah Veterans Home, c/o State Officer; 160 North 200 East; Ivins, UT  84738.