‘They made friends wherever they went’: Family remembers Bethel brothers who died after boat capsized

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Family members are remembering the lives of 27-year-old Joseph Pete and 34-year-old Gary Pete, Jr., two brothers from Bethel who died after their boat capsized in the Steamboat Slough last week.

Their older brother, Norman Pete, told Alaska’s News Source that the two had a love for all things outdoors: hunting, fishing, and working with their hands.

According to Norman, Joseph had a passion for carpentry and engineering.

“He liked to read books on scientifics and mechanics and odd stuff, you know, something to learn every time he read.”

Gary, meanwhile, inherited the family’s fish camp from his grandfather, who he got his name from. Their mother, Pauline Eesenituk, said he also loved to make jokes.

“He’s always been like that, sense of humor, always funny,” she said.

“Always making people laugh. Always helping people, no matter what the situation is or what they’ve done to him. He always forgave in an instant and I think he’s taught us a lot of love.”

Along with their passions in life, family members said the two made connections with everyone they met, no matter the circumstances.

“They’re both really hard workers and they both cared for their friends and family with all their hearts,” Norman said.

In the days since the brothers’ passing, the community of Bethel has rallied around the Pete family. A friend of the family hand carved caskets for both of the brothers.

However, the family is struggling to raise enough money to hold a viewing for the brothers in Anchorage.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family cover the cost of the viewing, as well as helping transport the brothers back up to Bethel, where they will be buried.

“I’m not the type of person that really like to ask for help, and it’s not easy for me to reach out to ask for help,” Norman said.

“I am going to ask for help so I can get my brothers here so that my family can see them, the rest of the family can see them, and then go back home.”

“We’re hoping that everything will just fall into place,” Pauline said.

See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com