Alvin Peters

Alvin Peters was born on September 26, 1928 to Henry and Elizabeth (Boldt) Peters. He was their 7th child. Alvin was born in a small house that was on a rural farm south of Dinuba. His older siblings were: Hulda, Margaret, Hank, Elizabeth, Esther, and Jonie. His younger sister, Jennie was born 7 years later. Alvin peacefully passed away on August 9, 2015 at the age of 87.

When Alvin was 5 years old, the family moved to a 40 acre farm on Road 56 in Reedley where cotton and grapes were grown. Alvin learned at an early age the skills necessary to process grapes into raisins.

Alvin attended Windsor Elementary School in Reedley from 1st through 8th grade. When he began attending school he only spoke German, which made school difficult for him. He learned English as soon as possible to alleviate the teasing that he got from the other students.

The Henry Peters family attended church at RMBC. When Alvin was 13 years old he went to a revival at this church and received Christ as his Savior. His favorite verse was John 5:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has pass out of death into life.”

Alvin attended Immanuel Bible School during his 9th-12th grades and was among the first graduating class in 1947. While attending Immanuel, Alvin met his future wife, Annie Isaak.

Alvin and Annie were married on March 17, 1950, at the Dinuba Mennonite Brethren Church.

The newlyweds made their first home in Reedley, and have lived in the Reedley area their entire married lives.

In 1952, they moved into a small house on 20 acres. This was the location where Alvin began packing fruit for growers and purchased his first truck. He would haul fruit to Los Angeles to be sold. Annie rode along with him on many occasions. During this time, their oldest son, William Don, was born.

Alvin preferred to own businesses, rather than to work for someone else. During the off-season, Alvin hauled manure. He called his business “Richland” because that was the purpose for people buying manure.

In 1954, Alvin and Annie moved to what was known as “the Kliewer place” on Frankwood Avenue in Reedley. Three children were added to their family over the next 6 years: Barbara Ann, Judith Elaine, and Clifford Wayne.

On the open ground, next to the house, Alvin built an office. In this office, Alvin would supply farmers with pickers, packers, a shed tender, and a portable shed that was pulled through orchards by a tractor in order to harvest and pack peaches, plums, and nectarines. He rented a building in Reedley where the fruit was shipped. In 1957, Alvin purchased a store in Dinuba that he called “The Richland Company”. This was a hardware store which also sold farm equipment that included Oliver tractors.

To improve his public speaking, Alvin was a member of the Toastmaster’s Club for several years.

Alvin Annie purchased their first home in 1959 on the corner of Frankwood and Stanley. While living in that home, Gerald Allen was born in 1960 and Henry James completed the family in 1962.

Alvin taught his children how to have a strong work ethic while they were still in elementary school. Back then, fruit was packed in wooden boxes and labels had to be glued onto one end. The older children would glue the labels on in the evening, so they could dry and the boxes would be ready to use the next day.

In 1966, Alvin had saved enough money to purchase his first farm. It was 60 acres of vines, plums and cotton on Road 62 in Reedley and became known as “the home ranch”. Included on the property was a two-story house that was in desperate need of remodeling. Fortunately, Annie knew how to sew, paint and wallpaper. The children were all introduced to spackle and spent hours each day after school covering up cracks in the walls.

On the road 62 property Alvin built his first packing shed and cold storage called “The Richland Company”. The Mennonite Central Committee used this packing shed for their annual fund-raising auction for 13 years.

There were 2 events that Alvin would enjoy at the end of the fruit season. The first was a “thank you” party for his employees that was held at Heppner’s ranch. There would be a bar-b-q, swimming, and employees would perform a talent show. At the end-of-the-season, Alvin would also rent a motor home for his growers and take them deep sea fishing in Ensenada.

Besides working with tree fruit in the summers, Alvin taught his children to pick, turn, roll, and box raisins. Alvin would complain every year that the Raisin Day Festival in Dinuba should be held at the end of September, instead of during the harvest season. The family would get up extra early on Raisin Day morning, work until 9am, go to the parade, have lunch, and then return home to finish harvesting until dark.

During Christmas break from school in December, Alvin’s children could be found out in the fields tying vines.

A sales team was added, and Richland Sales, Inc. was established. Fruit was bought and sold throughout the world. Alvin concentrated on personal relationships with the growers, and left the fruit selling to his partner, Mel Lewis.

Over the next 40 years, Alvin would purchase many farms that were in poor conditions, fix them up, and then re-sell them. He always like a challenge.

Alvin never had a ranch pickup, He drove an El Camino for many years and then started buying cars with a large enough truck to carry any tools he might need. One tool he always carried was a pruning shears. If he ever saw a bush or a tree that needed trimming, he would ship out his pruning shears and get the job done.

Alvin was a Boys Brigade leader at RMBC for 15 years. Often adult men have come up to him and reflected on the good times and the things that they had learned when they were younger and in his Boys Brigade group.

Alvin was involved with a men’s fellowship group for many years that met at his home for lunch. Many close friendships developed during these meetings.

Alvin was an active member on many boards and ministries, both local and international during his lifetime. He was on the Immanuel board for several years. All of his children plus several of his grandchildren are Immanuel graduates, and now a great-grandson is attending that school.

During the time that Alvin was a board member for Hartland Christian Camp, he helped with many construction projects including cabins, the gym, dining hall, maintenance shop, bridge and the dam.

Even though Alvin never attended college, he enjoyed being on the Pacific College board and helped with the construction of their gym.

One of the highlights on Alvin’s life was when he went to the Presidential Prayer breakfast in Washington, D.C. and shook hands with President Reagan. He enthusiastically supported conservative politicians and candidates.

In 1988, Alvin purchased the Windsor School building where he had attended elementary school. He had it refurbished and turned into a social hall where he hosted many fund-raising dinners for non-profit organizations.

Alvin was always an attentive host. Any time someone would drop by his house, he would offer them a snack or a meal.

In 1992, Richland Sales was sold which allowed Alvin to pursue other interests.

In 2010, Alvin and Annie purchased a house in the city limits of Reedley. They lived there comfortably until Alvin had 3 strokes in 2011 and became wheelchair bound. In 2014, Alvin’s health deteriorated and he needed 24 hour care, so he moved to the skilled nursing section of Palm Village in Reedley.

There are many words that could describe Alvin, here are a few of them: successful businessman, visionary, advice-giver, Christian, entrepreneur, farmer, and a natural-born leader.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Annie Peters, children: Bill and wife Carol Peters, Barbara and husband David Ball, Judi and husband Howard Ratzlaff, Cliff and wife Lisa Peters, Gerry and wife Kim Peters, Henry and wife Stacey Peters, 34 grandchildren and their spouses, and 21 great-grandchildren, with more on the way. He also leaves 3 sisters and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

Alvin is predeceased by his parents Henry and Elizabeth Peters, brothers: Hank Peters and Jonie Peters, sisters: Hulda Doerksen and Elizabeth Thiesen, and grandson: Calvin Peters.

Remembrances can be made to Hartland Christian Camp or Immanuel Schools Cholarship Fund.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank the staff at Palm Village for the excellent care Alvin received while at their facility.