Oscar L. Peterson

Mr. Peterson, the youngest son of Mary Heinemeyer and Lauritz Christian (L.C.)Peterson, was born at Mandan, North Dakota January 17, 1923 and was reared southwest of Stanton on the Coulee Bank Stock Farm. Upon graduation from Stanton High School he enrolled at the State School of Forestry at Bottineau where he majored in Horticulture. Following graduation he was employed as an assistant in the horticulture department until the fall of 1943 at which time he enlisted in the U.S. Army with the 758th Field Artillery Battalion. He was engaged with the 155 Howitzer crew in active combat in the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe Campaigns in WWII. In the spring of 1946 Mr. Peterson began work as a nurseryman for Oscar H. Will & Co., a pioneer seed and nursery company in Bismarck.

In the fall of 1946 he accepted a position as an elementary teacher in the Stanton Public Schools. The following year he enrolled at Dickinson State University where he received his B.S. Degree in school administration and social science. He accepted a position as superintendent of schools at Dodge, ND in 1949 and received his Masters Degree in school administration at the University of Minnesota in 1953. He later served as Superintendent of schools at Killdeer, Carson, and 23 years at Mott where he retired in 1986. Throughout his 40 years in public school education, Mr. Peterson served on a number of professional, civic, and community boards. He was a past commander of the American Legion at Stanton, Americanism Chairman of the Legion at Mott and a long-time treasurer of the Mott Lions Club. He was active in the Lutheran church having served as a Sunday School teacher and on the church council and committees. He was president of the North Dakota Association of School Administrators in 1974. He was one of the organizers of the North Dakota Council of School Administrators and served as the first president of that organization in 1976. In January of 1989 he was awarded an Honorary Life Membership in the North Dakota Association of School Administrators.

After retirement in 1986, the Petersons moved to Bismarck where he remained active as a volunteer working with Lutheran Social Services, West Central Human Services, RSVP, and Assistant State Coordinator and instructor with AARP 55/Alive/Mature Driving. He was president of Bismarck-Mandan Retired Teachers in 1992-1997. He is remembered for his dedication and commitment to service with family, profession, community and church. When not engaged in service to others his favorite pastime included cooking and baking (pies, lefsa, sourdough pancakes), hunting, hiking, camping, and quality time with family.

Oscar was united in marriage to June C. Diede at Hebron on May 27, 1949. To this union three sons were born, Jeffrey Jon, Gregory Scott, and Bradley Oscar. June died March 27, 1973 in a one car accident north of Mott. On August 3, 1974 Oscar and Mary German Bruvold were married in Boise Idaho. Mary passed away at Bismark on March 7, 1987. Oscar married Arlette Payne in Bismarck May 25, 1990.

He is survived by his wife, Arlette Peterson, his son Jeff Peterson and wife Julie of Sulphur; stepsons Dan Goehring and wife Janice, Stan Goehring and wife Karen, Wayne Goehring and wife Cindy; three grandchildren, seven step-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Albert and Oswald Peterson, sons, Gregory and Bradley Peterson, wives, June and Mary.

His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday, April 6 at Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home. Rev. Ronnie Burke will officiate. Burial will be in North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND. Visitation will be Thursday from 5 - 9 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. until service time.