Peter Leroy (Junior) Wilhelmsen was born November 18, 1929 in Jamison, Nebraska, at Hazel Blake's home, to Peter and Sophie Wilhelmsen.

He was the 3rd of five children. His parents had emigrated to the United States from Denmark in 1921. They were a very hard working family. Junior's father was a blacksmith by trade and he worked hard beside his Dad learning the blacksmith trade. He became a very good welder and repairman. After graduating from high school he worked as a heavy equipment operator building roads and dams. He worked for Laverne Blake in his implement business that led to more then fifty years as a mechanic and parts man for the agricultural industry.

In 1951 he met and danced with the love of his life, Jeanne Hutchison, at Leo Simons Dance Hall in Herrick, South Dakota. Later that year Junior was drafted into the US Marines. Many letters had criss-crossed the country which eventually led to the union of the couple on March 22, 1953 at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Gregory, South Dakota. Later that year he was stationed in Germany and his wife Jeanne moved home to live with her parents. To this union five children were born, Glenda Jean, Gregg Leroy, Glee Diane, Gary John, and Jolene Kay.

Junior and his family moved to Burke, South Dakota in 1963 where he began working for Brunz-Hartog as a parts man which later became Wilhelmsen Implement. He was an excellent parts man not only for IH, but for Case IH, Ford New Holland and Hesston. He knew many parts by number and very seldom had to refer to the parts manual.

Sunday afternoons were spent playing softball or shooting blue rock at Four Corners Rod and Gun Club. His family was always there to cheer him on. After moving to Burke he continued playing ball and enjoyed teaching his children to fish at the River. His family meant the world to him. His others interests were collecting toy tractors, belt buckles and many other collectibles.

Junior leaves to mourn his loving wife of 61 years, Jeanne of Burke, South Dakota; Gregg Wilhelmsen (Carol) Spencer, NE; Glee (Dick) Deffenbaugh, Kimball, SD; Jolene Wilhelmsen, Castlewood, SD; and son-in-law, Bruce Adams, Sioux Falls, SD; brother, Luther Wilhelmsen (Avis) of Burke, SD; and sister, Betty Fast of Winner, SD; 12 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors. He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Sophie, a daughter, Glenda Jean, a son, Gary John, sisters Kate (Bill) Herman and Evelyn (Bob) Fiene, brother-in-law, Harvey Fast and a great-granddaughter, Alexia Dee Deffenbaugh.