Donald Luverne Peterson Sr., age 76, of Blooming Prairie, died Sunday morning, Dec. 7, 2003, at his home.

He was born March 1, 1927, to Theodore B. and Alma (Wold) Peterson in Westfield Township, Dodge County. Donald was baptized on April 3, 1927, and confirmed on Nov. 22, 1942, at First Lutheran Church, Blooming Prairie. He attended Westfield Country School and later Blooming Prairie High School. He served in the Army from 1945 until 1948. He married Myrtle Jeannette Sprague. They were later divorced. On Nov. 10, 1979, he married Julie (Falch) Vokoun at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. A gallant, gentle man, Don was a very loving and devoted husband and father. He was the owner of Peterson Trucking from 1949 until the present, hauling livestock and grain and now soybean oil, and chemicals and hauled the original equipment for the Atofina plant in Blooming Prairie. A good friend to everyone, he loved life and people. He showed it in his 40 years with the Blooming Prairie Fire Department. Former state director and secretary for the Minnesota State Fire Association, he was formerly an advanced first aid instructor for the American Red Cross and the State of Minnesota, traveling the state, training fire departments and ambulance crews and presently serving on the Governor’s Council for fire prevention and control. He founded the rural ambulance association and Blooming Prairie Ambulance Association. A Chamber of Commerce board member, Don was 2003 Fourth of July Grand Marshal and past commander of American Legion Post 52. In 1999 he received a lifetime achievement award from the Blooming Prairie Jaycees. He was an instructor for snowmobile safety training for many years. As clerk of Westfield Township Board, which he had served for 42 years, he was also presently District I Director for the Minnesota Association of Townships and president of the Dodge County Township Officers Association for 32 years. A 4-H leader in Westfield Township, he served on the Dodge County Planning and Zoning Commission Board. Don was devoted to the First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie where he served on the church council. He will be truly missed by his family, friends and the community.

Survivors include his wife, Julie Peterson of Blooming Prairie; six sons: Donald Peterson Jr. of Blooming Prairie, Kenneth Peterson (Elaine Widner) of Hayfield, Kevin (Tami) Peterson of Blooming Prairie, Delevan Peterson (Darcy Rolloff) of Blooming Prairie, Kirby Peterson (Stacy Borwege) of Blooming Prairie, and Fred Vokoun (Kiersten Knudson) of Geneva; one daughter, Valerie (Darrel) Leonard of Zumbrota; ten grandsons; five granddaughters; two great-grandsons; one great-granddaughter; brothers: Helmer Peterson and Harris (Phyllis) Peterson, all of Blooming Prairie; one sister, Harriet (Dwain) Lehman of Whitehouse, Ohio; sisters-in-law: Lois Peterson of Albert Lea, and Bernadine Peterson of Blooming Prairie; and nieces, nephews and many, many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Ted and Alma Peterson; three brothers: Irvin, Arlen and Kermit; one nephew, Alvin; and one sister-in-law, Bernyce Peterson.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 11, at First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie with the Rev. Richard Hegal and the Rev. Heidi Heimgartner co-officiating. Blooming Prairie Worlein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Friends may call at First Lutheran Church from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, and one hour before the service. Interment is at First Lutheran Cemetery with military honors by American Legion Post 52 and VFW Post 878.