Richard B. Peterson

Colonel Richard “Pete” Peterson, USAF Retired, passed away Sunday morning, November 8, 2009, at his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He had been a resident of Colorado Springs for 39 years. Richard Burton Peterson was born on January 29, 1920, in Slayton, Minnesota to Richard and Helga Peterson. He spent his first 18 years in Slayton before heading to Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. War interrupted his studies and Richard joined the U.S. Army as an aviation cadet and fought in the Pacific Theater during the war. Following the war, Richard married the only woman he ever loved, Dorothy Louise Madsen, who preceded Richard in death in 2003. Richard flew P-38 and P-61 night fighters during WWII, and continued a 31 year career in the US Air Force, retiring as a Colonel in 1972. A fighter pilot through and through, he also flew F-82s and F-94s after the war. His service included tours as a Flight Safety Officer, staff officer, and commander, serving in the lower 48 states, Alaska, Europe, and Vietnam. His decorations included the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and AF Commendation Medal. Following his retirement, Richard was a successful realtor and business owner in Colorado Springs. Colonel Peterson is survived by his three daughters, Bobbie Dearden (Boyd), Candice Kubecka (Frank), and Nancy DiMarchi (Dave), seven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, November 13, 2009, at Swan Law Funeral Home, 501 North Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Interment will follow at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Richard’s name may be made to the Air Force Village in San Antonio, Texas, at www.airforcevillage.com, “Make a Gift” or to the Salvation Army at www.salvationarmyusa.org.Arrangements under the direction of Swan-Law Funeral Directors, Colorado Springs, Colorado