Perry Peterson

Dates

Obituary

Perry Peterson, 85, of White Lake, SD, passed away peacefully Sunday, September 15, 2024, at his home under hospice care with his wife and children near him. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 AM Monday, September 23, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in White Lake. Burial will be at St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 1-3:00 PM at the Church with a 2:30 PM prayer service. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Perry was born to Vira and Betty Peterson on May 5, 1939, in Chester, SD. He grew up on a farm outside of Chester, SD, and graduated from Chester High School in 1957. He attended SDSU in Brookings for two years, and then farmed with his father, and drove the school bus. The kids who road on his bus nicknamed him “By God,” evidently an expression he used frequently when giving orders.

Perry joined the Army National Guard in 1961 and served until 1967 as a combat engineer. He was activated for 6 months in 1962 to train troops for Vietnam. On September 6, 1965, he married Karen Schmidt, daughter of the late Harry and Ferne Schmidt, from Madison, SD, and joined the Catholic Church. Perry and Karen lived in Chester where Perry managed the Chester grain elevator and farmed on the side. They eventually moved out to the farm. Their first child, a daughter, Tracey, was born on May 9, 1967. In the winter of 1969, they moved to Madison, SD where Perry worked for East River Electric, until he decided to go to Ag Banking School in Pipestone, MN. Perry attended banking school and worked on his father’s farm while they remained living in Madison. Their second child, a daughter, Jean, was born on November 15th, 1970.

Perry graduated from Ag Banking School in 1971 and obtained an Ag Banking job in Redwood Falls, MN, where they lived for 2 ½ years. However, Perry wanted to get back to South Dakota “where the fishing and hunting is good.” He took a job at the White Lake branch of Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Plankinton. The family moved to White Lake in 1974, and Perry worked as an Ag Banker, Insurance Agent, and Vice President until he retired. Their third child, a son, Mark was born in 1977. Perry worked in the bank for 25 years before he retired for medical reasons at age 60. After retirement, Perry and Karen wintered in Texas for a couple of months each year for 20 years.

Perry and Karen have lived in White Lake for 50 years. Perry was an active member of the Commercial Club, served on the St Peter Catholic Church council, was a member and president of the Sportsman's Club, and headed the trap shoot leagues for many years. He was also the head of the White Lake Centennial Celebration Committee.

He loved to hunt, fish, and camp. He had many successful elk and deer hunts with the trophies adorning the family home. He also participated in many fishing contests, winning or placing many times. In fact, he participated in the June 2024 White Lake fishing contest hoping to repeat his first-place performance of 2023 but came in 6th, but happy first-place was won by his grandson. Perry was a true sportsman and taught all his children and most of his grandchildren to fish and hunt. 

Perry is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Karen Peterson of White Lake; three children, Tracey (Bill) Koenig of Walford, IA, Jean (Bob) Schroeder of White Lake, and Mark (Lisa) Peterson of Aberdeen; 10 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren; brother, Timothy Peterson; and his sister, Susan Aldrich.

Perry was preceded in death by his parents, Vira and Betty Peterson; grandparents, Nels and Sylvia Nelson, Elliott and Sena Peterson; sister-in-law, Diane (Schmidt) Roster; brother-in-law, E. Joseph Aldrich; and brother and sister-in-law, Doug and Carol Schmidt.

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