Donald Orrin Peterson

Donald O.  Peterson, of rural Milan, died on Sunday, November 4, 2007 at his home at the age of 81.

Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, November 9, 2007 at 1:30 P.M. at the Watson Lutheran Church with Rev. Larry Olson officiating.  Interment will be in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery.  Visitation will be Thursday afternoon and evening with the family present from 5 - 7 PM and with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at the Anderson Funeral Home in Montevideo.

Donald Orrin Peterson was born on May 23, 1926 in Big Bend Township of Chippewa County, MN the son of Andrew and Helma (Teigen) Peterson.  He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church of rural Watson and graduated from Milan High School in 1944.  He served in the US Navy during WWII.  Donald was united in marriage with Alta Mae Nelson on April 2, 1950 in San Diego, CA. They farmed on his home farm near Milan until he retired from farming in the early 1990's.  He was currently a member of the Watson Lutheran Church and had been a long-time member of Zion Lutheran Church. He was a member of the American Legion Post in Milan, the Eagle’s Club in Willmar, the Farmer’s Union, Pheasants Forever, and the Sons of Norway.  He enjoyed farming, reading military and political history, traveling, talking politics, coffee at Trailways and spending time with his grandchildren and great-granddaughter.  He especially enjoyed listening to them play the piano.  Don was excited to hear about the expected arrival of Jon and Erin’s child in May.

He is survived by his wife; a daughter Ruth Ann and her husband Jerry Lee of Watson, MN; three grandchildren: Jason Lee of Clara City, MN, Jon Lee and his wife Erin of Fargo, ND and Donna Mae Lee and Jeremy Hanson of New London, MN; a great-granddaughter, Jessie Marie Lee; and three nieces: Janice (Peterson) Pabuda, Linda (Falk) Peterson and Darlene (Falk) Salitros.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers: Richard, Arlo and Lloyd Peterson; a sister, Eleanor Falk; a brother-in-law, Fred Falk, a sister-in-law, Mabel Peterson; and by a niece Diane Peterson.