Arthur M Peterson

Art Peterson, 102, Barnesville, died on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at ValleyCare and Rehab in Barnesville.A Celebration of Life for Art will be at 11 AM on Thursday, July 6, 2017  at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Barnesville.   Arthur Millard Peterson was born August 5, 1914 in Wilkin County, Minnesota.  He was the sixth child of Mary Larson and Aseus (A.K.) Peterson.  He grew to manhood and worked on the family farm while attending school at District 3, Prairie View Township.  After graduation in 1928, he studied auto mechanics at Barnesville High School and continued to work on his parents farm until 1939 when he began employment in Barnesville.   On May 25, 1941 Art married Marian Ness of Rothsay, Minnesota.  She was the love of his life until her death in February 2002.  On March 24, 1942, he was inducted into the U.S. Army.  After basic training at San Luis Obispo, CA, he was assigned to the 110th Combat Engineers and served in the Aleutian Islands Campaign and in Oahu, Hawaii, before boarding ship for Leyte which was under the command of Gen. Douglas MacArthur for MacArthur’s return to the Philippines.  Achieving rack of Staff Sergeant, he headed the motor pool during the campaign in Okinawa until the war ended with the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.    After his discharge in November 1945, he returned home to start his family and resumed working at Nortz Implement, later to become Barnesville Implement.  In 1951 Art was hired as manager/operator of the newly constructed Barnesville Municipal Power Plant.  In 1953 he returned to Barnesville Implement where he filled roles of salesman, mechanic, operations manager and generally doing whatever needed to be done.  He along with Ruth Kava, Jim Manning, and Ingvold Froslie became partners of the John Deere dealership and he worked the business until its closure in 1975.  His delight in problem solving and helping others was well satisfied, especially during planting and harvest seasons.  His toolbox was always nearby and local farmers could count on getting help any time of the day when their equipment would break down.    Art was active in the Barnesville community.  He was member of the Chamber of Commerce, served a decade as clerk of the District 146 School Board, and hosted the annual John Deere Day luncheons.  A faithful 67 year member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, he served in many capacities including Sunday School teacher, Deacon, Council and call committees.  He loved music and sang in the church choir for 20 years.   Art and Marian raised their three children in his home where he lived independently until past his 97th birthday after which he moved to the ClayCo Care Center/ValleyCare and Rehab in Barnesville.   Art was preceded in death by his beloved wife, parents, two brothers and five sisters.  He is survived by his three children: daughters Marcia (Dick) Cottrill of Grants Pass, OR; Marilyn (Karl) LeDoux of Fergus Falls, MN; and son Alan of Excelsior, MN; as well as seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and seventeen nieces and nephews.   In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, The Salvation Army or a charity of choice.  The family will be hosting a “celebration of life” at a later date.