Facts

Born: December 4, 1921

Death: May 6, 2013

Manfred Peterson
December 4, 1921 - May 6, 2013

Manfred Leonard Peterson was born to Axel Leonard and Martha Linnea (Anderson) Peterson on December 4, 1921 and passed away on May 6, 2013 at the age of 91 years, 5 months and two days. He was born in their home in Gregory Co. South Dakota---4 1/2 miles north of Gregory. He was the first born of seven children and was proud of his family and his Swedish heritage. Manfred started his schooling in a one room schoolhouse North of Gregory but he couldn't speak English so he was sent home to learn English and a year later his brother Karl and he started together. He completed the eighth grade and that was the end of his schooling. However; in 2000 he and several other local veterans received a diploma from Keya Paha County High School in a special ceremony.

Manfred's first steady job was for Fred Hitchcock in 1938, he worked for $15.00 for the first month. The deal between Fred and Manfred was if he proved satisfactory he would get a raise...and he did. He worked several months for Fred but got itchy feet and moved on to finding work out west. In 1939 he and a friend headed for Wyoming and landed a job for $40.00 per month and thought they were really ""laying up the dough"". They returned to South Dakota in the fall to pick corn bringing in about 6 cents a bushel but his Uncle Hilding enticed him to return to Wyoming to find work where he worked for a man and wife in Green River Wyoming. However; Manfred could never stay away for long and made his way back....he worked wherever he could find work and gives credit to Dolly Burkinshaw who gave him his start in Hereford cattle.

When Pearl Harbor was hit on December 7th, 1941, Manfred was ready to fight. He had just turned 20 years old and was ready to enlist but his mother didn't want him to go until he was called up, which was September 11, 1942. He took training at Camp Roberts, California and then was sent on to Camp White, Oregon. He was a truck driver in the 650th Engineer Battalion. Manfred was sent to the South Pacific for 22 months-- New Guinea and the Philippine Islands and three months in Japan. Manfred was among the first troops to land on Japan after the atomic bomb. He spent three months doing clean-up in Japan and became eligible for discharge in December. Manfred was sent back to Fort Logan, Colorado and honorably discharged on January 11, 1946. He rode a troop train back to Grand Island, Nebraska and boarded a bus heading North to O'Neill where his father was anxiously waiting to bring him home.

Once back home in Keya Paha County, Manfred had the opportunity to rent 200 acres of real good farm land and used Axel's machinery till he could buy some of his own. In 1949, he had the chance to buy the home place and through the years put together a nice farm and ranch. He was a dedicated farmer/rancher and had a love for horses. He bred and raised quarter horses and took pride in selling them. Manfred was a hard-working, honest, Godly man and took pride in his strength and endurance in his younger years. He loved History and put together a book titled ""Boomtown Brocksburg"" which he sold or gave away over 200 copies although he didn't think he would sell more than 50!!

In 1954, a young lady from Stuart, Nebraska by the name of Norma Norton came to teach in the Brocksburg school, but her teaching career didn't last long...Manfred courted Norma and they were married on August 22, 1955. To this union four children were born: Dewey Leonard, Anita Sue, Alan Scott and Vicki Jean.

Manfred was a proud WWII veteran, husband, father and grandfather. In his younger years he was very involved in the Brocksburg/Jamison community. He sold DeKalb seed corn for over 25 years and made many lifelong friends during that time. He was the last surviving original board member of the Four Corners Rod and Gun Club. He was a school board member of the Pleasantview, Dist. 1 grade school for many years and also a school board member of the Keya Paha County High School for nearly 14 years. He was a lifetime member of the Jamison United Methodist Church. He was a 48 year/permanent member of the Stuart Legion Post # 115. He was a lifetime member of Burke VFW Post 9950 and was Commander of the Post in 1998-1999.

Manfred is survived by his four children: Dewey and wife Diane Peterson of rural Newport; Anita Swim and fianc" Gary Ekroth of Dallas, S.D. Alan and wife Teresa Peterson of Burke, S.D. and Vicki and husband Bruce Ferguson of rural Springview, thirteen grandchildren Desarae Schubauer and husband Nathan; Kristy Smith and husband James; Cody Peterson; Brent Swim, Chad Swim and Autumn Jerred and Matt Swim, Meghan, Abbey, Ethan and Anna Peterson and Linnea Ferguson and fianc"e Andrew Steinhauser, Alanna and Trevor Ferguson. Five great- grandchildren: Alyssa, Mason and Dylan Schubauer; Cayden Smith and Cadence Swim. He is also survived by two sisters--Lovera Reber and Margaret Hitchcock and one brother Frank all of Burke, S.D. Manfred also leaves to mourn his passing his extended family of brothers/sisters-in law, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Preceding Manfred in death is his wife, Norma; father and mother Axel and Martha Peterson; three brothers, Karl, Martin and Arne Peterson; son-in law, Randy Swim.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 11:00 AM at the United Methodist Church in Burke. Burial will be in the Spotted Tail Cemetery, Jamison, NE. There will be a prayer service on Wednesday at 7:00 PM at the church. Visitation will be one hour prior to both services at the church.

Funeral Service

Thursday
May 9, 2013, 11:00 AM

United Methodist Church

Click for Map and Directions

Visitation will be one hour prior to both services at the church.

Sign the Guestbook
Share your thoughts and memories about Manfred Peterson in the guestbook.

Sign the guestbook

Read the guestbook

Memorial Networks™ Partner Provider: Batesville Interactive, All rights reserved.

Funeral Home Website by Batesville, Inc.

PRIVACY

TERMS OF USE