The Life and Legacy of Orville Peterson February 26, 1928 – April 27, 2023
Orville Rupert Peterson, age 95, of Cokato, passed peacefully into heaven in the late hours of Thursday, April 27, 2023. Leading up to his passing he had been surrounded by his loving children and family singing, reading and telling stories of his legacy. Family, friends, and neighbors are invited to join a time of visitation Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 5 to 8 pm at the Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato. A time of prayer and reflection will be held at 7 pm. There will be a memorial celebration of Orville’s life at First Baptist Church in Cokato, on Sunday, May 7th at 2 pm. A time of visitation will begin at 1 pm. Burial will be at Stockholm Lutheran Church Cemetery. A light meal will be served and a time of fellowship will follow in the First Baptist Church reception hall. Arrangements celebrating Orville’s life are through Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato. Orville was born Feb 26,1928, to his parents Walter and Signe Peterson. He grew up with his siblings Bedford “Bud”, Elda and Betty Jean on the farm. After graduating from Cokato High School, Orville married the love of his life, LaVerne Johnson on December 17,1949. They made their lifetime residence on Orville’s family farm, six miles south of Cokato. Welcoming their first born a year later, was the beginning of establishing their family with seven children: Larry, Jane, David, James, Gina, Joel, and Mari. From the very beginning, Orville faithfully and lovingly served his family, by working on their heritage dairy and crop farm with the help and support of his wife, LaVerne, and the children. After many years of dairy farming, he continued with crop farming and began working at 3M in Hutchinson until retirement. In his retirement years, Orville and LaVerne traveled throughout the United States and visited family. Overseas travel included a trip to Europe, a Caribbean cruise, and a memorable trip to the Holy Land and the Mediterranean. In his leisure time he loved mowing/edging and keeping up his yard, fishing, giving tractor rides to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and playing the musical saw accompanied by LaVerne on the piano. He held an ongoing battle with the local raccoons and rabbits that tried to ruin the beautiful garden LaVerne cared for. His love of God, family and community were always a priority throughout his lifetime. Orville was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Signe; his wife, LaVerne; his brother, Bud; his sister, Elda; brothers-in -law, John Burton and David Clayton; and great-grandsons, Regan and Charles. He is survived by his sister, Betty Jean Clayton; sister-in-law, Carmie Peterson; children and their spouses: Larry (Sue) Peterson, Jane (Dwight) Dahlman, David (Pam) Peterson, James (Sue) Peterson, Gina (Steve) Gahnz, Joel (Carrie) Peterson, Mari (Larry) Okoro; 26 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren.
May
02