Marlian “Pete” J. Petersen

MARLIAN “PETE” JEAN PETERSEN was born on December 13, 1933 to Olaf and Mildred (Koster) Petersen on the farm near Lake Benton, Minnesota. He was raised on the farm and attended country school and later high school. At age 16 he decided it was important for him to help full time on the family farm. He also worked at the Friendly Corner gas station in between Lake Benton and Tyler, Minnesota. He met his future bride while in school. The couple later began dating and on May 13, 1953, Pete was united in marriage to Marjorie Ries at Danebod Lutheran Church in Tyler. He enlisted into the United States Air Force in June of 1953 and the couple began their military life in Rapid City, South Dakota. They were blessed with three daughters. Pete was deployed three times during his service, which included Fairbanks, Alaska, the Vietnam War and Thailand. While he was deployed, the family moved throughout the country to be together. During his service, Pete completed his high school G.E.D. In June of 1974, Pete retired as a Master Sergeant and was honorably discharged. He and Marjorie returned to Lake Benton and at this time he attended Canby Vo-Tech for their auto mechanic program. Following his education, Pete went to work as a paint contractor until his retirement. In 1998, he and Marjorie purchased the Prairie Rose antique store. The couple traveled from auction to auction finding items for the store and loved every moment of it. He also started a rental properties business, which he enjoyed a great deal. On Thursday, July 25, 2019 Pete died peacefully surrounded by his family at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 85 years, seven months and twelve days.

Pete was a member of Lighthouse Assembly of God Church. He loved the Lord, his family, nature and wildlife. He was an avid hunter and trapper. He enjoyed his collecting hobby, buying and working on cars, his years on the craft show circuit with Marjorie and her art booth, and spending time at the American Legion. He was a hard working man who was humble and accepted all people.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Marjorie; three daughters, Randi (John) Thorp of Wilmington, North Carolina, Julie (Jeff) Lamb of Westbrook, Minnesota, and Angie (Lonny) Carpenter of New Ulm, Minnesota; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; five siblings, Virgil (Shonnye) Petersen of Woodbury, Minnesota, Connie Mincher of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Karen Nielsen of Lake Benton, Marie (Don) Nadeau of Greenwich, New York and Harlan (Kathy) Petersen of Clarksville, Tennessee; other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his stillborn granddaughter; parents; two siblings, Mark Petersen and Rita Carter; and three brothers-in-law, Jay Mincher, Eldon Nielsen and Russ Carter.