Funeral services will be Friday, July 24, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at the New Hope Worship Center in Lemmon. Rev. Dan Lindeman and Rev. Robert James will officiate and burial will follow at Greenhill Cemetery in Lemmon. Visitations will be from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, July 23 at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday afternoon.


LEONARD MARTIN PETERSON was born May 25th, 1913 at the family farm, 20 miles north of Thunder Hawk, SD. Leonard was the fifth of twelve children born to Carl and Augusta Peterson. When Leonard was a young boy, the family moved to a farm closer to Thunder Hawk where he attended country school through the eighth grade.


While growing up, Leonard worked for various neighbors doing various jobs. It was through church and bible school where he met Alvina Christman. They were married on June 23rd, 1941. Their first home was in Bismarck, ND where he worked for Sweetheart Bakery. Two years later they moved to the Christman farm in Adams County, ND. In 1945 they bought the farm southwest of Lemmon. They raised their son, Leaun, there and made it a home for the next 60 plus years. Alvina passed away on February 26, 2004.


Leonard was a devoted farmer and rancher. It was not only his occupation, but his hobby. He was especially proud of his Angus cattle. He served numerous years on his church and township boards. He always had time for a cup of coffee with his neighbors, friends and family.


Leonard passed from this life to eternal life on Monday morning, July 20, 2009 at the Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon at the age of 96 years, 1 month and 25 days.


Grateful for having shared in his life are his son, Leaun (Veta) Peterson, of Rapid City, SD; his grandchildren, Brent (Jennifer) Peterson and Brooke (Randy) Ables; great grandchildren, Tyler Ables, Rylie Ables, Mason Peterson and Brady Peterson, all of Rapid City, SD; sisters, Hilder McDonald, Esther Peterson, Dorothea Peterson; brother-in-law, George Klitzke and two sisters-in-law, Phyliss Peterson and Lillian Peterson.


Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Alvina Peterson, four brothers, Harold, Martin (in infancy), Alvin and Samuel and five sisters, Clara Peterson, Helga Peterson, Grace Bishop, Edith Wolfe and Mildred Klitzke.