Funeral services for Paul E. Peterson, age 97, of Bismarck, ND formerly of Lemmon, SD will be held at 11:00am, (MDT) Wednesday, July 27, at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lemmon. Pastors Ken Miller, John Langehough, and Chaplain David Peterson will officiate with burial in Greenhill Cemetery.


A family service will be held at 7:30pm (MDT) on Tuesday evening at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.

Special music will be provided by Marilyn Willey, organist, Julie Loper, Wanda Roso, and Darrel Klitzke, vocalists.

Serving as casket bearers are Paul W. Peterson, Grant K. Peterson, Jeffrey A. Dietrich, Erik R. Dietrich, Charles Peterson and Rolland Peterson. All friends are considered honorary bearers.

PAUL ERNEST PETERSON was born on February 16, 1908 in Hartford, SD to F.A. Oscar Peterson and Emma Louise (Anderson) Peterson and died July 23, 2005 at the Baptist Home in Bismarck, ND. His parents emigrated from Sweden during their young adult years. They settled in the Hartford, SD area. In 1912, the family moved to a parcel of land in Menz Township of Sioux County, approximately 8 miles northeast of Thunder Hawk, SD. Paul was the third born of 4 children, the youngest of which died in infancy. Paul's siblings included Robert Peterson, Goldie (Peterson) Roso, and Leonard Peterson who died in infancy.

Paul attended school at the Menz Township School. Paul continued to work with his parents on the family farm until the drought years in the 1930's when he and several of his friends and cousins drove to the West Coast to help harvest crops in that area, to earn a living. Paul returned to the Thunder Hawk area to help with the family farm and to assist in the care of his aging parents. His parents moved to the Lemmon area, and Paul's sister and husband took over the family farm north of Thunder Hawk. Paul continued to help with the family farm living with the Roso's. Paul's mother, Emma passed away in 1945, and his father passed away in 1960.

Paul married Gladys Hoffland on February 5, 1944 in Miles City, MT. They lived in several different houses until purchasing a home in Thunder Hawk,SD. To that union were born Shirley (Peterson) Dietrich and Henry O. Peterson. Paul and Gladys continued to live in Thunder Hawk until moving into Lemmon in 1987. Paul enjoyed farming until his retirement. Always a farmer, he enjoyed the beauty of the crops and took great pride and joy in his farm land. Even after retirement, he grew bountiful gardens and kept track of farming conditions and crops via his nephews who rented his farmland.


Paul was active on various boards including the Thunder Hawk Co-op, the Lemmon Co-op Grocery Store, Corson County Election Board, and Board of Trustees of Calvary Lutheran Church. Paul took great pride in helping build the current Calvary Lutheran Church structure, volunteering his time, work, and truck. Paul enjoyed bowling, playing horseshoes and whist, and visiting with friends and relatives. His family was the most important thing in his life, and he was a good role model. His generosity and kindnesses to family and friends will never be forgotten. Paul was the sole care-giver of his wife Gladys for many years, and her passing brought him great sorrow. Paul continued to enjoy friends and family, and going to the Lemmon Nutrition site to enjoy friends during noon meals and card games. Paul always considered himself a "tough 'ole Swede" and survived many serious surgeries… with the goal in mind that he want to live past 100 years, like his Uncle Carl O. Peterson.

Due to health issues, Paul moved to an Assisted Living facility in Bismarck in April of 2002, and moved to the Baptist Home in Bismarck in February of 2003. He had made many friends through the years and he was so blessed to have many friends and relatives visit him in his latter years.

Paul is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Shirley and Dick Dietrich, Mandan, ND; son and daughter-in-law, Henry and Mary Peterson, Adrian, MN; grandchildren, Jeff Dietrich, and Erik Dietrich, both of Bismarck, ND; Paul Peterson and his wife Lyndy, and their children, Katelyn, Makayla, and Grant Johnathon, Sioux Falls, SD; Grant Peterson and his wife Keri, and their children, Alexa and Jaida, Menomonie, WI; sister-in-law, Freda Hoffland, Lemmon, SD; numerous nieces, nephews, and many friends made through the years.

Paul's joys included his family, his farming, his friends, and he took great pride in his work. He will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Robert; his sister, Goldie, and his wife Gladys on July 29, 1992.

A memorial service for Paul Peterson will be held at 2:00pm, August 2, at the Baptist Home Chapel in Bismarck with Pastor Clyde Leimberer, officiating. The organist-soloist will be Jessica Lemke.

A memorial has been established.