Retired Master Sergeant William Silas "Shorty" Pettit, Jr. 68, Minot, died on Friday, September 23, 2011 in a Minot hospital.

Shorty was born May 28, 1943 in San Antonio, Texas to William Sr. and Phynetta (Oldham) Pettit. He was raised and educated at the Pythian Home Orphanage in Weeatherford, Texas.

Shorty enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1961 and was stationed at Salina, Kanas. He married Sharon Daniel on September 5, 1963 in McPherson, KS. They made their home in the Salina area and in Little Rock, Arkansas from 1965 until 1967. They also lived at various Air Force Bases throughout the world including Duluth, MN, and Weisbaden, Germany from 1970 until 1975. He also served a tour in Vietnam from 1967 1968 at Tan Suiute.

The family moved to Minot in 1975 where Shorty worked at John Moses Regional Air Force Hospital as an EMT, floor supervisor, and superintendent. Shorty retired from the Air Force in October of 1983 as a Master Sergeant. Following his retirement, he became an insurance agent working for a variety of insurance companies until retiring in 1996 due to health reasons. They had continued to make Minot their home. Sharon died on April 15, 2011.

Shorty was a former member of Hope Lutheran Church, Surrey and was very active with the Boy Scouts of America for 36 years. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans, Eagles Aerie and Minot Area Life Underwriters. He loved to hunt and fish.

Shorty is survived by his children: Keith (Tressa) Pettit of Detroit, William "Bill" (Diane) Pettit III of Bismarck, and Alycia Dawn Pettit of Minot; nine grandchildren: Chantel and Kelsey Pettit, Michael and Jessica Wretling, Josh Pettit, Shea Woodward, Abbey, Jaden and Jordan Schmidt; two great grandchildren: Calli Jo and Avrianna.

Shorty was preceded in death by his parents, wife and sister: Phynetta Clark.

Funeral Service: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home Chapel.
Graveside Service: Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.
Visitation: Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the North Dakota Association for the Blind or the American Cancer Society.