Funeral services for Donald Selmer Peterson of Ellendale, MN, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, December 23, 2011 at the First Lutheran Church in Ellendale. Pastor Richard Sliper will officiate. Visitation will be held Thursday evening from 4 until 7 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Ellendale, MN, and one hour prior to the service on Friday. Interment will be in the First Lutheran Cemetery.
Donald died Tuesday morning, December 20, 2011 at St Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN. He was 70 years of age.
Donald was born June 3, 1941 in Berlin Township the son of Selmer and Myrtle (Smith) Peterson. He graduated from Ellendale High School. On June 4, 1960 he was united in marriage to Cheryl Hansen at the LeSeuer River Lutheran Church.
Don drove a fuel truck for the coop in Preston, MN before taking up farming in Ellendale. He farmed for over 20 years and then moved to Rochester, MN, where he was the Petroleum Manager for the Greenway Coop. He later managed the Southern Valley Coop in Mankato until his retirement and moved back to Ellendale.
He was a member of the First Lutheran Church and was active on the church board. Don was a member of the Lions Club and the Elks Club. He had served on the Ellendale School Board, Ellendale Coop Board and was active in the Pork Producers and Soybean Association.
Don loved to hunt and fish, play golf, card games, woodworking and any outdoor recreation. He enjoyed going on trips with the RV, especially the trip to Alaska. Spending time with the grandkids always came first at all of their sporting events and activities.
Donald is survived by his wife Cheryl of Ellendale, MN, daughters; Kathy and her husband Ross Murphy of Knoxville, TN, Deb and her husband Jeff Schmidt of Ellendale, MN, Barb and her husband Chuck Hagen of New Richland, MN. There are four grandchildren; Kelly (Drew) Nelson, Tiffany Schmidt, Brett Hagen and Ryann Hagen. Two special great grandchildren; Lily Olson and Elena Nelson. Also surviving are one sister; Shirley (Tyler) Hanson of Rush City, MN, and brothers; Sam (Sharon) Peterson of Hope, MN, Mike (Carol) Peterson of Citrus Heights, CA, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister Mary Jane (Milton) Jensen.