Peter W. Rygaard, Jr (Pete)
Peter W. Rygaard, Jr (Pete) passed away at the age of 96 at his home in Texas City, TX, surrounded by the love of his children and his friend & Pastor, David Buco.
Pete was born in Galveston, TX on January 26, 1930, the youngest child of Margaret and Peter W. Rygaard, Sr. He was a 1st Generation American as his parents came to America from Denmark and Germany. He attended Ball High School where he was in the Jr. ROTC. He attended Alvin Junior College. He went to work for Union Carbide in 1948.
As a young boy in Galveston, he met Mary Louise Blair, who, at 10 years old, told him she was “going to marry him someday”. Fast forward 8 years where they found themselves sitting by each other at a mutual friend’s wedding and struck up a conversation. Pete walked Mary Lou home that night, they began dating, got engaged at Christmas and were married August 26, 1949.
They were blessed with 5 children and a long, happy marriage lasting just shy of 75 years, until Mary Lou’s death in 2024. He was a devoted Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-grandfather and Great -great grandfather.
The newlyweds settled in Galveston, later moving to Texas City, then to La Marque in 1956, where they raised their 5 children Pete III, Dennis, Terri, Donita and Ricky. They attended Trinity Lutheran Church, where Pete taught Sunday School, ushered, was scripture reader and Eucharist Minister. He served on the Church Council as President.
Pete & Mary Lou were devoted to family and service to their community. He enjoyed coaching and umpiring his kids Little League Baseball and Girls Softball and was a Boy Scout Troop Leader for many years. He received one of Boy Scouts highest honors, being inducted into the “Order of the Arrow”. They delighted in attending / cheering on their kids at baseball and softball games, band performances and half-time shows, school plays, parades, graduations, church confirmations and others. They earned many trophies for bowling and loved to dance the night away at organized dances. Many family memories were made while camping at Garner State Park, or Lake Tejas, or visiting family in San Antonio or Louisiana.
Pete and Mary Lou enjoyed travelling. On their 38th wedding anniversary, they renewed their vows in Hawaii. They would often be found on another trip with best friends Bev and Joe Rankin either across the state or across the world! They were gifted with a Caribbean cruise by the kids for their 50th anniversary which started their love of cruising. They went on many cruises with friends and family including to Alaska, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Puerto Rico.
Throughout most of his 96 years, Pete’s passion for serving his community continued. Pete served on the La Marque City Council for 14 years, including 4 terms as Mayor.
He received the “Outstanding Community Leader” award from the United States National Association of Towns & Townships in Washington, D.C.
Other service includes President of the Galveston County Mayors and Councilmembers Association, Chairman of the Board of the Galveston County Emergency Communications Association (911), President of the Union Carbide Employees Federal Credit Union (20 years), Vice- Chairman of the City of La Marque Economic Development Commission, Board Chairman of the Mainland Medical Center Board of Trustees, Member of the Board of the La Marque Youth Aid Project, which collected & distributed Christmas gifts to children in need.
He was also a Board Member of M. I. Lewis Social Services Center in Dickinson and Chairman of the Advisory Committee of Independence Village, where, in 2015, he received the “Michael R. Johnson Leadership in Excellence” award. He was a member of the Mainland Communities United Way Board of Directors, Vice-President of the La Marque Industrial Development Corporation, Member of the Texas City – La Marque Chamber of Commerce, where he was awarded “Citizen of the Year” in 1994. He also received the Galveston County Boys and Girls Club Appreciation Award in 1997 for his support and contribution to youth.
In 1995 he was honored when College of the Mainland established the “Pete Rygaard Public Service Careers Scholarship” raising $30,000.00 to benefit deserving students. He was also named a “Mainland Hero” by the College.
During his career with Union Carbide / Dow Chemical, he worked in the field of Industrial Process and Technical Training for over 50 years, training new personnel in unit operations and equipment technology. He taught plant orientation to new hire operators and trained personnel in Puerto Rico for 2 years. He also taught personnel from Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. He was selected to run the Safety Compliance Audit Program. He was also Chief Operator and Production Specialist.
In 1973 he began at COM, instructing apprenticeship petrochemical plant operators, and in 1975 began teaching Process Technology.
In the 1980’s he and others at COM put together a new training manual for operator instruction. In 1998 Pete became Instructor for COM for Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. In 2006, he was selected as one of four PT instructors to instruct students from Equatorial Guinea, Africa. He served as textbook reviewer for the Center for the Advancement of Process Technology.
Pete was an active member of the Carbide Volunteers and CRC (Carbide Retiree Corp.)
He received the Texas City Union Carbide Community Service and Chairman’s awards.
Pete loved La Marque Cougars High School football & enjoyed working with CoogsSportsNet to announce / broadcast the games.
With Mary Lou’s support, Pete went back to school to work on his degree, became a member of Phi Delta Kappa & proudly graduated with honors at age 85.
Pete found another of his true passions when he was invited to join the service organization Lions Club in 1982. He had perfect meeting attendance for over 34 years! He could be seen in his Yellow Lions vest at many events selling raffle tickets or collecting eyeglasses to support their causes. He has held all offices in his home club and has served on the District Governor’s Cabinet. He served as Chairman of Leadership Development, Zone Chairman, Eye Bank Advisory Board, and the USA-Canada Forum. He was elected Lt. Governor in 1987, District Governor in 1988, and served as Texas State Governors Council Charman. He was presented with the Lion of the Year award in 1989. He has received two International President’s Appreciation Awards and two District Governor’s “Medals of Achievement”. Pete was a Life Member of Texas Lions Camp and Texas Lions Eye Bank.
Pete & Mary Lou moved to Dickinson in 2007 and became active members of Faith Lutheran Church where he served on the Church Council as Vice President, then President. They moved to Santa Fe in 2019 on their 70th Anniversary, where they enjoyed hosting holidays, and sitting on their patio playing tri-ominoes, watching the birds and squirrels or tending to their plants, with their dog, Taffy.
After Mary Lou’s passing, Pete moved to Sodalis Senior Living in Texas City, where he was embraced by residents and staff. He quickly became known as “Pistol Pete” and made many new friends and became the Bingo King!
If you didn’t know Pete, you would become his friend as soon as he met you, when he greeted you with his warm handshake and welcoming smile. And, in just minutes, you would hear a “dad joke” from him while he chuckled at the punch line. His grandkids really got a kick out of his antics, and he was always ready to challenge them to games and riddles. And of course, he loved it when they challenged him right back! He loved card games, dominoes, Dallas Cowboys, his books and movies.
Pete will be remembered for his deep love of family, his dedication of service to others, his integrity, his loyalty and his kindness.
Pete was preceded in death by his wife Mary Lou, his parents, brothers Martin and Kincy, sisters Eda and Katherine.
He is survived by his 5 children: Pete Rygaard III (Denise), Dennis Rygaard (Babs), Terri Foreman (Jack), Donita Brannon (Barry), Ricky Rygaard (Lanie).
13 grandchildren: Richard Rygaard (Becky), Amey Eaton (Newell), Heather McCallay (Jason), Melinda McNatt (Michael), Niki Landry, (Craig), Tyson Frost, Jeremy Frost (Niki), Dustin Frost, Abby Calhoun, Jason Lehrman (Kimberly) Nicholas Ward (Lindsey), Cody Rygaard (LeeAnna)and Brandi Gaspard (Ryan)
23 Great-Grandchildren: Victoria, Kyle, Lacey (Andrew), Bella, Kenzy, Lani, Brittany (Nathan), Taylor (Dylan), Justin (Becca), Kaliee, Kya, Ryder, JJ, Hannah (Mikey), Breanne, Jacob, Rylee, Trentin, Jayce, Paiton, Emilee, Kastan, Emily
5 Great-Great Grandchildren: Dallas, Maisie, Westin, Landry, Everett
The family would like to thank the staff of Sodalis Senior Living for loving our Dad like family and providing professional, dedicated, attentive, and heartfelt care. You certainly made his move to senior living enjoyable for him and comfortable for us. We will be forever grateful.
We would also like to thank Three Oaks Hospice for providing the gentle and compassionate care he received in the last few weeks.
Funeral arrangements are as follows: Visitation 5pm-7pm Friday, August 21, 2026, at Crowder Funeral Home, La Marque. Funeral services will be 10am on Saturday, August 22, 2026, also at Crowder Funeral Home in La Marque, with Graveside services following at Hayes Grace Memorial Cemetery in Hitchcock
Pallbearers are his sons Pete Rygaard III, Dennis Rygaard, Ricky Rygaard and his grandsons Richard Rygaard, Cody Rygaard, Tyson Frost, Jeremy Frost, Dustin Frost, Nicholas Ward.
Honorary Pallbearers and longtime friends are son-in-law Jack Foreman, Jose Boix, Paul Hopkins, Jr., Bruce Terry, Charles W. Blair, III, Scott Rankin, Gary Meyer, Austin Rygaard, Charlie Phinney
In Lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Santa Fe Lions Club, P. O. Box 76, Santa Fe, TX 77510 or Texas Lions Camp, 400 Highway 27, Kerrville, TX 78028-7091 or Faith Lutheran Church, 801 FM 517 Rd E., Dickinson, TX 77539 or the charity of your choice.