Services for Durward Carroll Peterson

Durward Carroll Peterson (“Sonny”) passed away peacefully February 24, 2018 in Bagley, MN.  He was 88 years old.  

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Clearbrook, MN. A visitation will be held on Friday, March 2, 2018 from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. with a Prayer Service beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bagley, MN as well as one hour prior to the services at the church on Saturday. Military Rites will be accorded by the Melvin Johnson American Legion Post #256 of Clearbrook, MN. Interment will be held at a later date at Silver Creek Cemetery in Clearbrook, MN. The Cease Family Funeral Home of Bagley assisted the family with arrangements. 

Durward was born April 12, 1929 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Lillie (Walberg) Peterson and Clarence Emerentius Peterson.   He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.   His early years were spent growing up in the center of the city of Clearbrook where his parents owned and operated a restaurant, “Pete’s Eats”.  In the 1940’s his parents sold their restaurant and purchased a farm.  There he found he had a true love of farming.  

He enjoyed playing several sports in high school and graduated from Clearbrook High School in 1947.  He farmed with his father and spent several years attending Bemidji State College (now “Bemidji State University”) in Bemidji, MN.  At Bemidji State he joined the Army ROTC program and trained in light machine gunner training.  

Durward married Olive Ann Gordon on December 26th, 1951 in Bemidji, MN.  He received his Single Engine Airplane License in May of 1952, owned his own plane for several years and truly loved the freedom he felt whilst flying.  When the Korean War started, he enlisted in the US Air Force on February 11, 1953 because of his love of flying.  Whilst in the Air Force, he was among several thousand to test for the electronics training and was one of only two Airmen who were accepted.  He attended Air Training Command at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois for Communications-Electronics Repairman, Airborne Equipment.  He completed that training in December 1953.  He served as an Aircraft Radio Repairman.  He was stationed at Tsuiki AFB, Japan where he performed repairs and updates to electronics on the P51 Mustangs, the new F89 as well as other aircraft.  He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant by the time he was honorably discharged on February 10, 1957 at Andrews Air Force Base, Washington, D.C.   During his military service he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Korea Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal and the US Air Force Good Conduct Medal.  After his tour was up he returned to Japan as civilian contractor for National Scientific Laboratories, Inc. and continued to work on airplane electronics.  He was a trained pilot and made trips from Chitose in Northern Japan to southern Japan as needed.  After his contract was up in December of 1958 he returned home to his wife and daughter.  He lived for over 30 years in Clearbrook raising 5 children with his wife Ann.  

Durward was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.  March 31, 1961 he was appointed postmaster in Clearbrook, MN.   He later became a rural route mail carrier and performed that (full-time job) in addition to his passion of being a part-time farmer.  Late in his career he returned to being the postmaster in Clearbrook and then accepted a larger postmaster position in Sebeka, MN where he stayed until his retirement.  

Durward loved his children and was very proud of their successes in life.  He loved to read, dance, and listening to big band and country music.  He was passionate about the outdoors, animals, farming and being on tractors and other farm equipment.  He helped his father farm after working all day for the Post Office, and toiled until sundown and weekends.  Even after the sale of his father’s farm, Durward continued to farm his quarter section of land north of Clearbrook and also had cattle and several horses on his homestead.   An avid hunter, he took many hunting trips with friends and family to Montana.  Fond of fishing, he spent many hours on the lake with his parents and family.  He loved new adventures and took his family on many camping vacations and loved to plan the next epic family trip.  He and his family took at least two trips to the west coast, the Black Hills and ND Badlands (both of which he loved), many of the great National Parks in the west as well as a vacation to the East coast Washington, D.C. area.  He loved the USA and was honored to have served his country.  He taught his children that they should travel and see their own beautiful country first before exploring other countries.    

After he and his wife Ann divorced, Durward married Ella Hanson in 1990.  They made their home for a number of years in Crookston, MN.  A few years later they moved to Glenwood, MN to be close to his son Tony, as well as his Great Aunt and Uncle, Russell and Esther Peterson (Glenwood was an area where both his great-great, and great grand parents had first settled in MN).  He lived there until he entered the nursing home in Belgrade, MN.  In 2014, he moved to the Good Samaritan Center in Clearbrook to be closer to his daughter Krista, as well as his brother Darryl and family.   He subsequently got a legal separation from his wife Ella.  In December 2018 he moved to the Cornerstone facility where he passed away on February 24, 2018.

Durward truly enjoyed being back in Clearbrook where he grew up and spent so much of his life.  He could once again see old friends and people he knew in Clearbrook and surrounding area.   He enjoyed going out to eat and taking long car rides around the back roads all the way from Bemidji to Grand Forks.  He’d reminisce and fondly share memories of his early life in the area with his daughter Krista, and her children. 

Durward is survived by his children:  Juel (James) Bagaason of Fridley, MN; Jan Louise (Thomas Sloan) Peterson of Dudeldorf, Germany; Ross (Maricella)Peterson of Sioux Falls, SD; Tony (Somsri) Peterson of St. Paul, MN; and Krista (Joseph) Walton of Trail, MN.  Ten Grandchildren:  Tara (Adam) Traut; Ryan (Jensena) Peterson; Courtney Peterson; Daniel Peterson; Haley Peterson; Samantha Walton; Cuhlainn Sloan; Kjersten Walton; Deidra Walton; and Abigail Walton.  Two Great Grandchildren:  Kaden Traut and Ace Peterson and his brother, Darryl (Bonnie) Peterson.

Durward was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Lillie Peterson and sister Yvonne Johnson.   

Messages of condolence may be sent to ceasefuneralhome.com