Harold T. Petersen

Harold T. Petersen, 81, of Willmar, formerly of Murdock, passed away on Wednesday, October 25th at Bethesda Grand.  His Celebration of Life will be 11:00 am Monday, October 30th at Assembly of God in Willmar.  Visitation will be Sunday, October 29th from 4-6:00 pm at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar and continue one hour prior to the service on Monday at the church.  Private family interment will be at Zion Cemetery in Louriston Township.  www.hafh.org 

Harold Thomas Petersen was born June 21, 1942, to Alfred and Alfie (Ingstad) Petersen in Willmar.  He was baptized and confirmed at Kerkhoven Presbyterian Church.  He attended grade school grades 1-6 at District 47, Louriston Township, Chippewa County, grades 7 & 8 in Clara City and grades 9-12 at West Central School of Agriculture in Morris, graduating in 1960.  He was united in marriage to Sharon Kay Gunderson from Dalton, MN, on September 23, 1961, at Tordenskjold Lutheran Church.  To this union three children were born:  Lynn, Keith and Kyle.  He lived his entire life on the same farm in Louriston Township until they moved to Willmar in 2019.

Harold started farming in 1961 and retired in 2010.  He served on numerous boards and committees including Chippewa County Farm Bureau, serving on the Minnesota Farm Bureau Board of Directors from 1969-1981, also serving on the Farm Bureau Life and Mutual Insurance Company Board during that time.  He served as Louriston Township treasurer and was a member of the MN Soybean Research and Promotion Council. He was also a board member & chairman of Red River Valley Insurance Pool, and was a member of the International Sugarbeet Institute committee.  Harold was chairman and board member of West Central Experiment Station Advisory Committee in Morris. 

As a founding member of the Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative, Harold served as Chairman, and was on the board of directors as well as on the board of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association and United Sugars and Midwest Agri Commodities.  He was appointed to the Minnesota State Farm Service Agency Committee by the George W. Bush administration 2001-2003.  Even after retirement, Harold enjoyed nothing more than coming to the farm to see his passion continue with Kyle and Paula, Lynn and John, and now his grandsons, Cody, Brett and Hunter, carrying on his love for farming.

In 1974 Lake Florida became a special part of family life.  Harold and Sharon celebrated 62 years of marriage.  For 16 winters, they escaped the snow to Palm Desert, CA, and were fortunate to travel to all 50 states as well as many foreign countries.

Harold is survived by his wife, Sharon; children and their families, daughter, Lynn (John) Suter of Murdock, and sons, Keith Petersen (Barb Geranen) of Aberdeen, SD, Kyle (Paula) Petersen of New London;  grandchildren: Kelli (Andy) Maurer, Oliver and Tristan of Clear Lake, Britta (Eric) Kramin and Evelyn of Minnetrista, and Cody Suter of Murdock, Anya (Lance) Essendrup and Owen of Cosmos, Dalton Petersen of Missoula, MT and Chase Petersen of Aberdeen, SD,  Brett (Nicole) Petersen and Olivia of Murdock and Hunter (Victoria Pagel) Petersen of Murdock.  Also surviving are his brothers- in-law, Vernon Youngren and Glen Gunderson, as well as 12 nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister-in-law, Alfred and Betty Petersen, sister, Joyce Petersen Youngren and sister-in-law, Debby Gunderson.

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