Ronald "Ron" Peterson
<p style="text-align: justify;">Ronald James Peterson passed away on Friday, November 27, 2020 at Villa Maria Nursing Home from COVID-19.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Ron was born to Harry and Ethelyn (Schur) Peterson on June 29<sup>th</sup>, 1938 in Fargo, ND. He grew up in north Fargo with his parents and sister, Hedda and spent lots of time with his extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins. He could be what his mother called ‘a stinker’ as she described driving on 10<sup>th</sup> St N and seeing ‘Ronnie’ painted in big black letters at the top of the water tower. Ron attended Roosevelt Elementary, Ben Franklin Junior High and Fargo Central High School where he graduated in 1956. Following his high school graduation, Ron enlisted with the US Army Reserves and proudly served our country from 1957 to 1963.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Ron worked for the North Dakota Highway Department then Pierce Printing Co. He attended NDSCS in Wahpeton and graduated with a degree in drafting. In 1961, friends set him up on a blind date with Karen Wittkop and the two were married in August 1963 in Pillsbury, ND.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">In 1964, Ron was hired at the Fargo Foundry (now Mid America Steel) where he worked in drafting and sales. A bonus for Ron was the countless fishing trips to Lake of the Woods with clients and friends. He always returned home with stories he and his friends would reminisce and laugh about for hours. Ron both loved and was proud of his work with Mid America Steel where he worked until his retirement in 2004. </p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Ron and Karen had three children, Eric, Julie, and Mark. Their summers were spent camping, traveling across the midwest as well as vacations to northern Manitoba. The back quarter of his yard was turned into a garden where he spent hours competing with his neighbor, Jim for vegetable bragging rights. He was a roadside bungee-cord enthusiast; meaning he and his brother-in-law, Tom would stop to pick up every single bungee cord they saw lying on the side of the road; there are buckets full in his garage. Ron pitched for Atonement Lutheran Church, Tom’s Shoe Repair and Asplin Excavatings’ softball teams and won the 1993 State Championship. He was proud that he played until he was 62 years old and even prouder of never moving to the ‘old pro’ team. We would be remiss not to mention Ron’s love of hunting. He was truly happiest out in the fields and shelterbelts even when wet and freezing cold. He passed his love of the outdoors and hunting to his sons and grandsons. Hunting stories with his boys, Big Jim, Jim Jr, and Mark F were abundant and when the men got together, they laughed until they nearly cried. We can’t help but believe Ron passed away with just enough time to be in Montana looking down as his grandson Benjamin bagged his first buck. </p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Ron is survived by Karen, his wife of 57 years; children, Eric (Sandy Bechard) Peterson, Great Falls, MT; Julie (Colin) Kloster, Fargo; Mark (Christie) Peterson; 6 grandsons, Harry, Haakon, James, Gunnar, Benjamin, and Kellen; one granddaughter, Tenley; sister, Hedda Sather; niece, DeAnn Sather; nephew, Dean (Sara Leigh) Sather; aunt, Muriel Rieniets; one great niece; 3 great nephews; and numerous loving and laughing cousins. </p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Ron is preceded in death by his parents, mother and father in-law, brother-in-law, and several aunts and uncles.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em>The family would like to thank the staff at Villa Maria on both Oak and Friendship Lanes for caring for Ron the past year and through this illness; and John Melland, Atonement member who visited, served communion to and had a special connection with Ron; he so enjoyed your chats.</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Public visitation</strong>: 5 to 7 pm Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at West Funeral Home in West Fargo. Masks are required and the other Covid-19 guidelines will be followed.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Funeral:</strong> Atonement Lutheran Church in Fargo. Due to COVID-19, a private family funeral will be held with an invitation for others to watch the live stream at <strong>atonementfargo.org</strong> Worship on Line Thursday, (12/03/2020) starting at 11:00 a.m.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">In lieu of flowers please consider a gift to Atonement Lutheran Church or your favorite charity.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>westfuneralhome.com</strong></p>Obituary
Ronald James Peterson passed away on Friday, November 27, 2020 at Villa Maria Nursing Home from COVID-19.
Ron was born to Harry and Ethelyn (Schur) Peterson on June 29th, 1938 in Fargo, ND. He grew up in north Fargo with his parents and sister, Hedda and spent lots of time with his extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins. He could be what his mother called ‘a stinker’ as she described driving on 10th St N and seeing ‘Ronnie’ painted in big black letters at the top of the water tower. Ron attended Roosevelt Elementary, Ben Franklin Junior High and Fargo Central High School where he graduated in 1956. Following his high school graduation, Ron enlisted with the US Army Reserves and proudly served our country from 1957 to 1963.
Ron worked for the North Dakota Highway Department then Pierce Printing Co. He attended NDSCS in Wahpeton and graduated with a degree in drafting. In 1961, friends set him up on a blind date with Karen Wittkop and the two were married in August 1963 in Pillsbury, ND.
In 1964, Ron was hired at the Fargo Foundry (now Mid America Steel) where he worked in drafting and sales. A bonus for Ron was the countless fishing trips to Lake of the Woods with clients and friends. He always returned home with stories he and his friends would reminisce and laugh about for hours. Ron both loved and was proud of his work with Mid America Steel where he worked until his retirement in 2004.
Ron and Karen had three children, Eric, Julie, and Mark. Their summers were spent camping, traveling across the midwest as well as vacations to northern Manitoba. The back quarter of his yard was turned into a garden where he spent hours competing with his neighbor, Jim for vegetable bragging rights. He was a roadside bungee-cord enthusiast; meaning he and his brother-in-law, Tom would stop to pick up every single bungee cord they saw lying on the side of the road; there are buckets full in his garage. Ron pitched for Atonement Lutheran Church, Tom’s Shoe Repair and Asplin Excavatings’ softball teams and won the 1993 State Championship. He was proud that he played until he was 62 years old and even prouder of never moving to the ‘old pro’ team. We would be remiss not to mention Ron’s love of hunting. He was truly happiest out in the fields and shelterbelts even when wet and freezing cold. He passed his love of the outdoors and hunting to his sons and grandsons. Hunting stories with his boys, Big Jim, Jim Jr, and Mark F were abundant and when the men got together, they laughed until they nearly cried. We can’t help but believe Ron passed away with just enough time to be in Montana looking down as his grandson Benjamin bagged his first buck.
Ron is survived by Karen, his wife of 57 years; children, Eric (Sandy Bechard) Peterson, Great Falls, MT; Julie (Colin) Kloster, Fargo; Mark (Christie) Peterson; 6 grandsons, Harry, Haakon, James, Gunnar, Benjamin, and Kellen; one granddaughter, Tenley; sister, Hedda Sather; niece, DeAnn Sather; nephew, Dean (Sara Leigh) Sather; aunt, Muriel Rieniets; one great niece; 3 great nephews; and numerous loving and laughing cousins.
Ron is preceded in death by his parents, mother and father in-law, brother-in-law, and several aunts and uncles.
The family would like to thank the staff at Villa Maria on both Oak and Friendship Lanes for caring for Ron the past year and through this illness; and John Melland, Atonement member who visited, served communion to and had a special connection with Ron; he so enjoyed your chats.
Public visitation: 5 to 7 pm Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at West Funeral Home in West Fargo. Masks are required and the other Covid-19 guidelines will be followed.
Funeral: Atonement Lutheran Church in Fargo. Due to COVID-19, a private family funeral will be held with an invitation for others to watch the live stream at atonementfargo.org Worship on Line Thursday, (12/03/2020) starting at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers please consider a gift to Atonement Lutheran Church or your favorite charity.
West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center
westfuneralhome.com
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