Richard "Dick" Petersen

Richard "Dick" Petersen, 86, of Barnesville, MN, formerly of Sonora, CA died on Thursday, August 27, 2015 at the ClayCo Care Center in Barnesville. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, September 5, 2015 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Barnesville, MN with Rev. Chris Leach officiating. Burial will follow in Rosemound Cemetery, Barnesville. Visitation will be held 5-7 PM, Friday, September 4, 2015 at Dobmeier Funeral Home in Barnesville, MN and for one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. Richard Dean Petersen was born on September 21, 1928 to Swen Jorgen and Josephine Lynn (Minter) Petersen in Reno, NV. As an infant, his family relocated to California; living in Chico, Sacramento, Stockton and Sonora. He attended and graduated from high school in Sonora, CA in 1946. Following high school, he joined the Army where he served his country in the infantry and was stationed in Korea. Following his honorable discharge in 1948 he began working for Pacific Telephone Company in Sonora and Jackson, CA. After 8 months he decided to go to the College of Pacific in Stockton, CA and graduated with an AA degree in 1950. He resumed employment with Pacific Telephone as a lineman and central office switchman. He was promoted to Engineer in 1962 continuing his telephone company career until his retirement in 1979. After his retirement he contracted back to Pacific Telephone as a telecommunications instructor for a period of 6 years. Dick married Janet Voss in 1951 and fathered two daughters; Christine and Sharon. He married Sanna Solum in 1965 in Reno, NV. Their first of many years of marriage were in San Jose and Sacramento California. In 1987, Dick and Sanna moved to Barnesville, MN. For the next 20 years, Dick helped care for families at Dobmeier Funeral Home as a funeral and visitation assistant. Dick was an avid reader, had a deep desire for knowledge, enjoyed good music, record keeping and his computer. A few of his other pastimes included: waterskiing, golfing, and watching basketball. He was a past member of the Lion's Club, American Legion and the VFW. He was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Dick also served on the TEC Board for the City of Barnesville. For 13 years, Dick and Sanna spent winters in Mesa, AZ. Dick was a devoted husband. He will be deeply missed, forever loved and never forgotten. He is survived by his wife Sanna, Barnesville, MN; two daughters: Christine (Dennis) Chance, Keizer, OR; and Sharon Petersen, Wildomar, CA; four grandchildren: Cary (Travis) Furrer, Gaston, OR; Philip (Kiffen) Chance, Escondido, CA; Sarah (Micah) Brown, Keizer, OR; and Rebecca (Gregory) Hatcher, Denver, CO. He was preceded in death by his parents. In lieu of flowers memorial preferred to Our Savior's Lutheran Church or the American Cancer Society.