Donald Petersen

Funeral services for Donald Petersen were held on Friday, December 27, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gregory, SD, with Father Ron Garry celebrant.

Lectors were Diane Svoboda and Sherry Opbroek. Hailie Lutt and AJ Lutt were candle lighters, Luke Stukel and Averie Stukel were altar servers, and Kathy Hanrahan, Blake Warnke, Dylan Warnke, Presten Hanrahan, and Sabastian Petersen were gift bearers.

Music was provided by Geoff Smith, soloist, accompanied by Sandy Stukel, organist. Lacey Warnke, Emmy Warnke, Courtney DeBoer, and Ashley Davis were in charge of registration. Flower attendants were Tanya Whitney, Kathy Hanrahan, Katie Petersen, and Chelsey Johnson.

Casket bearers were Donnie Petersen, Chris Petersen, Steve Petersen, Luke Petersen, Ryan Hawks, Kayla Begeman, Melissa Petersen, and Sara Degen. Honorary casket bearers were son-in-laws and greatgrandchildren.

Interment was in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Gregory, SD, with military honors conferred by the Gregory American Legion and the National Honors Team.

Donald Francis Petersen was born May 17, 1932, to Donald Andrew Petersen and Margaret C. (Abbenhaus) in Spencer, NE. He joined his sister Jean and a few years later his brother Dick was born. Don attended Catholic school in Bloomfield, NE, until the family moved to South Dakota where after several moves, they settled on a farm east of Gregory.

Don went to the Powell School and then Gregory High School, graduating in 1950.

After finishing school, Don worked with his dad until he was drafted into the Army, serving from 1952 to 1954. He served during the Korean War as a guard at Fort Leavenworth. Upon returning home Don met Barbara Jean Kahler at a dance in Burke, SD.

Don and Barb were married on October 18, 1956. They moved to a farm north of Burke where they had Donnie J. They then moved to a farm seven miles northeast of Gregory, where their union was blessed with five additional children: Cindy M., Bob T., Bill J., Roger L., and Peggy A. They made their home on this farm, turning it into a dairy business while continuing to farm.

Don served on the South Dakota State Dairy Board. While serving, he and Barb had the opportunity to travel to many different states for meetings and to observe different dairy operations.

Don enjoyed sports, especially watching his sons and grandsons play football and his granddaughters play basketball and volleyball.

Many years later they moved back to Don’s family farm, where they lived until his death on December 23, 2024.

Don enjoyed fishing. He spent many Friday nights fishing with his brother-in-law Leroy Smith and later in life with his sons and grandchildren. Don also enjoyed playing cards with neighbors and at the senior center, going to bull sales, multiple other excursions with his son-in-law Tim, and talking with his son-in-law Jon Hawks about army life. He enjoyed multiple trips to California to visit his special Aunt Laura.

Don served as a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Gregory Legion. He was part of the color guard during his time with the Gregory Legion and recently received an award for 70 years of service.

Don is survived by his wife of 68 years Barbara; his children: Donald (Carol) Petersen, Cindy (Tim) Talsma, Robert “Bob” (Sharon) Petersen, William “Bill” (Lisa) Petersen, Roger (Laura) Petersen, and Peggy (Jon) Hawks; fifteen grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws Ted and Ella Kahler; sister-in-law Jean (Chuck) Kayl; and brother Richard (Alvera) Petersen.