Donald Jerome Tetik

December 3, 1934 — November 23, 2024

Donald Jerome Tetik, 89, of Perry, Oklahoma, passed away at home on November 23, 2024, just short of his 90th birthday.

Donald (Don) was born in Perry, Oklahoma, on December 3, 1934, the only child of Frank and Mamie (Appelbaum) Tetik. Don grew up on the family farm east of Perry and attended elementary school at the rural Whipple School, junior high at St. Joseph’s Academy, and high school at Perry High School, where he was active in FFA and graduated in 1952. Don attended Oklahoma A&M College in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, graduating with a degree in Diesel Mechanics.

He began working for Charles Machine Works (Ditch Witch) in 1954, as employee number twelve. Don continued to work for Ditch Witch for over 43 years, until his retirement in 1997. Also, Don enjoyed wheat farming and raising cattle throughout his life.

Don met Betty Daniels while attending college, and they married on January 29, 1955, almost 70 years ago. Their family grew as Cynthia (Cindy), Diana, Roger, and Regina were born. Don worked hard to provide for his family, to ensure their safety, and to help his children develop a strong character.

He was a life-long member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, where he served as a member of the Knights of Columbus. Don helped form the Rock Township Volunteer Fire Department in 1998. He was voted Fire Chief and helped to build and design many fire trucks, as well as the existing fire station. He was very dedicated to the fire department and its volunteers.

Don enjoyed woodworking and was interested in machinery of all kinds. He took special interest in farm machinery and farm implements. One of his favorite things to do was cut trees with his skid steer. Even when he was physically unable, Don still longed to drive his tractor and skid steer. Don loved to spend time with his growing family of children and grandchildren and needed a space large enough to accommodate them all. This need for family space helped inspire him to build a large metal building, known as Tetik’s Country Barn, which he and Betty also operated as a bed and breakfast and event center for 15 years. His family will always remember the many family holidays and fun times spent together in the “barn.”

Don was preceded in death by his father and mother, Frank and Mamie Tetik, and by his son-in-law, Steve Loyd.

Survivors include his four children, Cynthia Carris and husband Terry of Guthrie, Oklahoma, Diana Loyd of Rudy, Arkansas, Roger Tetik and wife Carmen of Perry, Oklahoma, and Regina Hoover and husband Garry of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Don is also survived by 11 grandchildren, Jordan, Whitney, Ryan, Quinton, Haley, Alana, Mason, Treynor, Spencer, Sam, and Jacob, and by 19 great-grandchildren, Aiden, Max, Avery, Hadleigh, Hope, Wyatt, Gabrielle, Aniston, Jonah, Drake, Colt, Susannah, Breeden, Lilyana, Eleanor, Ezra, Poppy, Beatrix, and Tuesday.

Services will be held at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Perry, Oklahoma, on Friday, November 29, 2024, at 10 a.m. with Rev. Bala Raju Pudota officiating. Interment will be at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Cemetery in Perry.