Dale Peterson

Robert Dale Peterson...

was born on May 6, 1929 to Edwin and Eathel (McLain) Peterson on the family farm in Mason Township of Murray County, near Slayton, Minnesota where he was raised and attended country school. He then continued his education at the high school in Slayton. When his family moved to Ruthton, Minnesota at the end of his junior year, he remained in Slayton for his senior year of high school so he could play football. After his high school graduation, he worked for a short time in construction. On May 24, 1948, he entered the U. S. Air Force and served during the Korean War doing inventory work between Korea and Japan. During his military service, he also enjoyed playing football on the military football team. After his discharge on May 23, 1952, he returned to Ruthton where he worked in highway construction. On May 24, 1953, he was united in marriage to Eldonna Orange at the Methodist Church in Ruthton. To this union, three children were born. In March, 1954, they moved to a farm near Hadley, Minnesota. Two years later, they moved back to the Ruthton area and lived on a farm in Twin Lake, Minnesota. While farming, Dale started substituting as a rural mail carrier. In 1964 he became employed fulltime as the rural mail carrier in the Ruthton area. He continued delivering mail until he was 60 years old. Following his retirement, he and his wife continued to live in Ruthton. Donna preceded him in death on September 21, 2011. On Wednesday, October 17, 2012, Dale entered the Pipestone County Medical Center where he died the following day, October 18, 2012 at the age of 83 years, five months and 12 days.

Dale was a past member of the Ruthton United Methodist Church. He was also a member of the Ruthton American Legion Post 506 and a life-member of VFW Post 742. While living in Ruthton he was a member of the Ruthton Volunteer Fire Department of over thirty years. Dale served as the Ruthton City Clerk for many years. He also served as the mayor of Ruthton from 1976 to 1982. While serving as mayor of Ruthton, the streets were paved and the sewer system was installed. He served as the secretary-treasurer for the Rural Letter Carriers Association and enjoyed attending their national conventions. He was an avid Twins, Vikings and Lynx fan. In his younger years, he enjoyed boating and fishing, and he enjoyed his annual fishing trip up north with his family and several other Ruthton families. He also enjoyed watching the polka dancing and game shows on television up to the day of his death. He especially loved to watch all of his grandchildren play sports, and he was their biggest fan.

He is lovingly remembered by his children, Brian Peterson of Luverne, Minnesota, Shari Wiese and her husband Rick of Ruthton, Minnesota, and Todd Peterson and his wife Patty of Ruthton, Minnesota; five grandchildren, Terri, Troy, Keli, Kacie and Ashley; six great-grandchildren, Darian, Mason, Daviney, Daynica, Briley and Tenley; and one sister, Jean Gilbertson of Maple Grove, Minnesota. He is preceded in death by his wife; his parents; three brothers, Harold, Arvid, and Wayne Peterson; and one sister, Joyce Peterson.