Peter Valdemar Pihl, age 79, passed away Monday February 23, after a long battle with Alzheimer. He leaves behind his wife of 56 years and 3 sons: Toni of Copenhagen, Denmark; Thomas of Hutchinson, Kansas; and Torsten of Corvallis, Oregon. Also 2 grandchildren: Crystal of Pittsburg, Kansas and Christian of Tempe, Arizona. Peter was born in the farming and ranching community of Bassano, Alberta, Canada. One of 7 children, his father was Danish and his mother Russian. His family moved to Denmark during the dust bowl times in the early ‘30‘s. Growing up on a farm inspired him to excel at school, eventually becoming a businessman. After fulfilling his 2 year military obligation with the Royal Danish Air Force, he signed a two year contract with the Danish Weather Bureau and headed to Greenland in 1950. There he enjoyed spending time with the Inuit Eskimos, learning their ways of hunting and fishing. He became proficient at dog sled handling and racing with his 25 sled dogs. After returning from Greenland in 1953, he married his high school sweetheart, Ellis, also known as the "Danish Pastry". After 4 years with IBM, they sold everything and emigrated to the U.S.A. in 1960 with their 2 boys, Toni 6 & Thomas 3 ½. After a year in beautiful Ashville, N.C. they packed up and moved to Los Angeles, CA. where Peter began his 23 year career at Smith Corona. The third child, Torsten, was born in CA in 1964, as their little American who grew up to be 6 foot 5". After 11 years in So. Cal. with a 1½ year stay in Denver in between, they moved to the Kansas City area in 1973 where they lived until Peter retired in 1993 Then they moved to sunny Arizona, played golf and met many wonderful friends and neighbors.
Peter Valdemar Pihl, age 79, passed away Monday February 23, after a long battle with Alzheimer. He leaves behind his wife of 56 years and 3 sons: Toni of Copenhagen, Denmark; Thomas of Hutchinson, Kansas; and Torsten of Corvallis, Oregon. Also 2 grandchildren: Crystal of Pittsburg, Kansas and Christian of Tempe, Arizona. Peter was born in the farming and ranching community of Bassano, Alberta, Canada. One of 7 children, his father was Danish and his mother Russian. His family moved to Denmark during the dust bowl times in the early ‘30‘s. Growing up on a farm inspired him to excel at school, eventually becoming a businessman. After fulfilling his 2 year military obligation with the Royal Danish Air Force, he signed a two year contract with the Danish Weather Bureau and headed to Greenland in 1950. There he enjoyed spending time with the Inuit Eskimos, learning their ways of hunting and fishing. He became proficient at dog sled handling and racing with his 25 sled dogs. After returning from Greenland in 1953, he married his high school sweetheart, Ellis, also known as the "Danish Pastry". After 4 years with IBM, they sold everything and emigrated to the U.S.A. in 1960 with their 2 boys, Toni 6 & Thomas 3 ½. After a year in beautiful Ashville, N.C. they packed up and moved to Los Angeles, CA. where Peter began his 23 year career at Smith Corona. The third child, Torsten, was born in CA in 1964, as their little American who grew up to be 6 foot 5". After 11 years in So. Cal. with a 1½ year stay in Denver in between, they moved to the Kansas City area in 1973 where they lived until Peter retired in 1993 Then they moved to sunny Arizona, played golf and met many wonderful friends and neighbors.
