Peter Conrad Mourtsen, 91, Pocatello, died Sunday afternoon, October 5, 2008, at a local medical center. He was born May 26, 1917, in Wardboro, Idaho, to Peter Christian and Martha Elizabeth Mourtsen.

Pete retired from Mountain Bell Telephone Company in 1983, following a lengthy career in the telephone industry, which included time with Western Electric and Ohio Bell. He also worked as a seaman on the Great Lakes. During World War II he served in the Army Air Corps as a B-24 pilot in the Pacific Theater.

In 1948, he married Eleanor Dorothy Archer. They made their home in St. Anthony, Idaho, where all five of their children were born. In 1962, they moved to Pocatello.

He is survived by daughters, Lesa and Laura of Pocatello, Diane (Jerry) Koll of Las Vegas, Nevada; son, Peter (Debbie) of Flagstaff, Arizona; four grandchildren, Ryan and Katie Koll, Peter Charles and Alex Mourtsen. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor, son, Kelly, his parents and all of his siblings, three brothers, Allen, Joel, and Daniel, four sisters, Fern Mokastet, June Guyon, Wanda Day Lauridsen, and Garnet Arnell, and daughter-in-law, Sue Lappens Mourtsen.

Peter was a very organized, hard-working man who took care of his family. He was a volunteer fireman in St. Anthony and a member of the Telephone Pioneers. His hobbies included hunting, fishing and working with his hands. He spent many inventive hours at his work bench.

Graveside services will be held Wednesday, October 8, 2008, at 2 p.m., in the Montpelier Cemetery, Montpelier, Idaho, with the Rev. Roger Bray conducting.