Frank Oscar Peterson was born to Axel Leonard and Martha Linnea (Anderson) Peterson on January 28, 1930 and passed away on November 22, 2013 at the age of 83 years, 9 months and 25 days. Like his five older siblings, Frank was born in their home in Gregory Co. South Dakota.

In 1934 the family moved to Brocksburg, Nebraska. Frank attended elementary school at the Knapp and Brocksburg schools and then attended Keya Paha County High School in Springview graduating with the class of 1949. While attending high school, Frank and younger brother Arne, boarded with a family friend, Meda Felton, through the week and would be home on the weekends. Frank loved the game of football and was very proud of his center position on the Keya Paha Co. Indian football squad. He would never turn down the opportunity to tell about the championship game that was played in mid-November against Ainsworth. Despite the cold and snow Keya Paha Co. came out victorious with a score of 8-0.

After graduating from high school, Frank continued to work with his father, farming and ranching until he was called to serve his country in the Korean War. Frank was inducted into the United States Marine Corp on November 14, 1951 and was a flight radio operator stationed out of Santa Anna, CA. Frank attained the rank of Corporal before being honorably discharged on November 3, 1954. Frank would tell of still having dreams sometimes where he would be using morse code. Needless to say, Frank was proud of being a Marine.

Upon his discharge, Frank returned to Nebraska and worked with his brother Martin and eventually bought some land of his own and built a house that he and Arne called home for several years. While living there, Frank farmed and ranched for himself and helped out any of his neighbors that needed an extra hand. Frank worked for the Keya Paha County road department for several years and in time moved into Springview where he took the job as Weed Superintendent. Frank enjoyed having coffee time with his co-workers at the courthouse and every once in a while pulling a prank on one of them.

In his younger years, Frank purchased his own small airplane and enjoyed flying that for a few years. Also, Frank enjoyed a good coyote hunt with the hounds. He was always ready to load up his dogs for a chase that would usually end with a good story to tell.

Through the years, Frank attended his high school alumni banquets and at his 50th year celebration Frank became reacquainted with his high school sweetheart, Joanne (Heyden) Hallock. Frank courted Joanne for a short time and they were married on October 23, 1999 in Sturgis, S.D. Frank and Joanne had four short but wonderful years together, when Joanne unexpectedly passed away on December 23, 2003.

Frank stayed in Sturgis for awhile but decided to move closer to his family and made his way back to Burke. He lived in his own home for several years where he enjoyed tinkering with his projects. Frank always had a mechanical mind and enjoyed working on and restoring Ford tractors. The Peterson post-Christmas gatherings was something Frank looked forward to and he enjoyed cooking for that occasion?.his standby was usually a good pan of meatballs.

As a young man, Frank was baptized in the Jamison United Methodist Church. In recent years, while living at the TLC Assisted Living facility, Frank enjoyed the variety of ministers that would visit on Sundays to share the word. Frank was a man of quiet but strong faith.

Frank is survived by his two sisters, Lovera Reber of Burke, S.D. and Margaret Hitchcock of Gregory, S.D., sixteen nieces and nephews: Nilo & Dale Reber, Donn (Kathy) Reber, Mary (Dennis) Schoenefeld, Myra Reis, Dianne (Jim) Buryanek, Sandra (Lee) Odenbach, Vernon (Pam) Hitchcock, Victor (Diana) Hitchcock, JaNell (Bob) Gnirk, Dewey (Diane) Peterson, Anita Swim (Gary Ekroth), Alan (Teresa) Peterson, Vicki (Bruce) Ferguson, Emily (Dave) Beck and Linda (Randy) Stolcpart. Frank is also survived by Joanne's family: Lanny (Sue) Heyden, Randy (Carol) Hallock, Diane Hallock and Rowana Hallock along with great nieces and nephews, neighbors and friends.

Frank was preceded in death by his wife Joanne Peterson; parents, Axel and Martha Peterson; four brothers, Manfred, Karl, Martin and Arne Peterson; sisters-in law Norma Peterson, Barbara Peterson, brothers- in-law Milo Reber and Curtis Hitchcock, a niece, Rene' Vali Reber, a nephew, Randy Swim and Joanne's son Brian.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 at 2:00 PM at Clausen Funeral Home in Burke, SD. Visitation will be prior to the services on Tuesday. Burial will be at Black Hills National Cemetery on December 4, 2013.