Peter E. Malvey

Peter Malvey, age 81, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, March 23, surrounded by his son Ken, his caregiver Mary, and his loyal golden retriever, Cooper.

Peter was the son of Margaret MacKay and Dr. Kenneth Malvey and grew up in Bottineau, North Dakota, which remained home in his heart. It was there that his lifelong appreciation for wide open spaces and hunting seasons took root. He attended Shattuck–St. Mary’s School in Faribault, graduated from Hopkins Senior High School in 1962, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Macalester College in 1968.

Peter spent his entire career with the Burlington Northern Railroad, where, as an early pioneer in computer programming and systems analysis, he helped usher the railroad into the computer age. He excelled in his work, reflecting his thoughtful, methodical nature and dedication.

An avid outdoorsman, Peter found his greatest joy in the field, far from city lights, on hunting trips with his son Ken, close friends, and his golden retrievers. He was at home at the Hudson Rod, Gun & Archery Club, where he competed as an accomplished trap shooter. Just as much, he cherished the time afterward, sharing tall tales over a cold beer.

Peter was a man of simple pleasures and enduring interests. A voracious reader, he was often immersed in a good book. He tended his hobby farm with care and pride. Known for his craftsmanship and attention to detail, he once hand-built a beautiful wooden boat—a testament to his patience, ingenuity, and quiet enjoyment of a challenge.

He valued close connections and maintained a small circle of friends throughout his life.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia “Ginny” Malvey; his brother, Kenneth A. Malvey; and his dear sisters, Eleanor Chamberlain and Marion Lawley.

Peter will be greatly missed by his son, Ken (Deanna) Malvey; his granddaughter, Hannah (Alex Colbeck); his sister-in-law, Marit Malvey; numerous nieces and nephews; step-grandchildren, Elsie and Fiona Montgomery; and his beloved golden retriever, Cooper.

A gathering of family and friends to celebrate Peter’s life will be held at O’Connell Funeral Home, 520 S. 11th St., Hudson, Wisconsin, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on April 15. The family will attend a private burial at Oak Creek Cemetery in Bottineau, North Dakota, on April 17.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Malvey Family Foundation or Oak Creek Cemetery.

A special, heartfelt thank you to the in-home care team who provided such loving care, including Mary, Linda, Kay, Wendy, Rachel, Marie-Anne, Julia, Kory, Ron, and Becky.

He will be remembered for his quiet strength, steady presence, and the deep contentment he found in life’s simplest pleasures.