Lee Petersen

LEE FRANKLIN PETERSEN was born into this world on June 14, 1933. He was the second youngest of six children born to Emil and Lorraine (Rapp) Petersen on a prairie farm in southwest Minnesota. He graduated from Luverne High School in 1951 in Luverne, Minnesota where he was active on the football field. After high school he went to community college briefly and took jobs associated with carpentry while honing his craftsmanship skills.

Lee and Delores Estergaard were united in marriage in Flandreau, South Dakota on December 14, 1953. They settled in Luverne where Lee was employed at the Luverne power plant as Chief Engineer. He then worked at Iowa Beef Processors (IBP) for more than 25 years as the Maintenance Supervisor where he led a crew of about 15 men. Farming was an important part of Lee’s life. All the while Lee worked for the City or IBP, he also farmed. Early in his manhood he farmed with his father Emil and then later realized his dream by developing an acreage together with his family on the west edge of Luverne.

Lee was active in the Jaycees, and was instrumental in starting the little league baseball program in Luverne. He coached for more than a decade and the teams he led won several championships in that span. Lee was an active and lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church. He was also a member of the Maplewood Cemetery board and helped facilitate additional land purchases to sustain it. In 1992 they moved to Walker, Minnesota where he enjoyed his transition to retirement in 1995.

Lee was an avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, watching and participating in sports. His kind heart and spirit allowed him to readily make many friends. Above all he found great joy in being with his grandchildren.

On Thursday, April 21, 2011 Lee passed away at the Sunrise Cottages in Rochester, Minnesota at the age of 77 years, ten months, and seven days.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Delores Petersen of Luverne; two sons, James (Jean) of Waconia, Minnesota, and Jeffrey (Barbara) of Rochester, Minnesota; 5 grandchildren, Angie, Brittany, Ryan, Emma and Seth; two sisters, Bernice Heckt of Cambridge, Minnesota, and Lois (Harold) Kindt of Hardwick, Minnesota; and one brother, Loren (Karn) Petersen of Omaha, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Herbert and Carl Petersen.