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Selmer S. Peterson Sep 04 2007
Funeral services for Selmer S. Peterson, age 88, of Watertown, SD will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 8, 2007 in the New Helgen Lutheran Church, Florence, SD. Rev. Gary Anderson will officiate. Music will be provided by Chuck Hamann, organist, and Lorraine Meland, soloist. Selmer passed away on September 4, 2007 at a hospital in Watertown, SD. Burial, with military graveside rites provided by Codington County Post #17 of the American Legion and taps played by Heather Peterson, will be in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Watertown, SD. Honorary pallbearers will be Selmer’s great-grandchildren and family and friends. Active pallbearers will be Selmer’s grandchildren and their spouses. Visitation will be in the Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown, SD on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday preceding services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Saturday by 10:00 a.m. for a prayer service. Selmer was born on September 22, 1918 at Castana, IA to Sievert and Wilhelmena “Minnie” (Skow) Peterson. He attended rural school north of Henry, SD. He then farmed with his brother, Grover, south of Wallace, SD and near Garden City, SD. In 1942, Selmer enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served in France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Holland from July 1944 to March 1945. During WWII, Selmer served as a cook and took food to the frontline. Selmer married Betty J. Floden on August 14, 1946 at Florence, SD. The couple farmed west of Florence for fifty-nine years. Selmer was a member of New Helgen Lutheran Church, was a clerk of Phipps Township in Codington County for fifty-three years, was a member of the Draft Board and A.S.C. and F.H.A. offices for several years, and also worked part-time at Loken’s SD Livestock Sales Barn in Watertown, SD for several years. The couple enjoyed square dancing with the Florence Whirlaways for sixteen years. Selmer loved to play cards anytime with family and friends and belonged to a card group at the Community Center in Florence. He liked to hunt pheasants and fish in his younger years. Selmer attended all family occasions. He enjoyed being with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Betty, of Watertown, SD; three sons: Steven and his wife, Linda Peterson, of Florence, SD, Stanley and his wife, Debby Peterson, of Watertown, SD, and Wayne and his wife, Debra Peterson, of Wallace, SD; one daughter, Sheryl and her life companion, Ron Hansen, of Castlewood, SD; one brother, Lawrence and his wife, Barb Peterson, of Watertown, SD; one sister, Gretchen Robb of Pasadena, CA; twelve grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Selmer was preceded in death by one grandson, Chad Peterson; parents; two brothers; and two sisters.

Selmer S. Peterson
Sep 04 2007

Funeral services for Selmer S. Peterson, age 88, of Watertown, SD will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 8, 2007 in the New Helgen Lutheran Church, Florence, SD. Rev. Gary Anderson will officiate. Music will be provided by Chuck Hamann, organist, and Lorraine Meland, soloist. Selmer passed away on September 4, 2007 at a hospital in Watertown, SD.

Burial, with military graveside rites provided by Codington County Post #17 of the American Legion and taps played by Heather Peterson, will be in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Watertown, SD. Honorary pallbearers will be Selmer’s great-grandchildren and family and friends. Active pallbearers will be Selmer’s grandchildren and their spouses.

Visitation will be in the Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown, SD on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday preceding services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Saturday by 10:00 a.m. for a prayer service.

Selmer was born on September 22, 1918 at Castana, IA to Sievert and Wilhelmena “Minnie” (Skow) Peterson. He attended rural school north of Henry, SD. He then farmed with his brother, Grover, south of Wallace, SD and near Garden City, SD. In 1942, Selmer enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served in France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Holland from July 1944 to March 1945. During WWII, Selmer served as a cook and took food to the frontline.

Selmer married Betty J. Floden on August 14, 1946 at Florence, SD. The couple farmed west of Florence for fifty-nine years.

Selmer was a member of New Helgen Lutheran Church, was a clerk of Phipps Township in Codington County for fifty-three years, was a member of the Draft Board and A.S.C. and F.H.A. offices for several years, and also worked part-time at Loken’s SD Livestock Sales Barn in Watertown, SD for several years. The couple enjoyed square dancing with the Florence Whirlaways for sixteen years. Selmer loved to play cards anytime with family and friends and belonged to a card group at the Community Center in Florence. He liked to hunt pheasants and fish in his younger years. Selmer attended all family occasions. He enjoyed being with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Betty, of Watertown, SD; three sons: Steven and his wife, Linda Peterson, of Florence, SD, Stanley and his wife, Debby Peterson, of Watertown, SD, and Wayne and his wife, Debra Peterson, of Wallace, SD; one daughter, Sheryl and her life companion, Ron Hansen, of Castlewood, SD; one brother, Lawrence and his wife, Barb Peterson, of Watertown, SD; one sister, Gretchen Robb of Pasadena, CA; twelve grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Selmer was preceded in death by one grandson, Chad Peterson; parents; two brothers; and two sisters.

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