Clarence Peterson, 90

Clarence Melvin Peterson, 90, passed away peacefully December 18, 2012 surrounded by family at home.

He was born August 3, 1922 on the family farm near Garfield. He was youngest of 13 children born of John A. and Minnie (Johnson) Peterson. He attended District 99 School to the 8th grade. He worked on the family farm for his parents. From 1943 to 1947 he served in the Minnesota Home Guard.

On January 18, 1947, he married Janet Viola Knaack at the parsonage of Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria. They made their home on the family farm near Garfield. From 1950 to 1951 he worked for the Corps of Engineers, with his brother-in-law Everett Knaack, in the construction of the Fort Randall Dam in Pickstown, South Dakota. In 1951, he purchased the family farm from his parents. In 1956, he moved the family to Spokane, Washington to visit two of his brothers and they introduced him to the sheet metal trade. In 1957, the family returned to Garfield to the family farm and he continued the sheet metal trade in Alexandria.

In 1965, he moved the family to Rochester and began his career with HiMec. He was proud to say he worked on the buildings of Mayo Medical Center, Apache Mall and IBM Complex. In 1984, he retired from HiMec.

He was a member of the Sheet Metal Union #10 for over 50 years. He and Janet enjoyed traveling and visited 35 states, Mexico, Bahamas, Germany and France. They spent their 42nd wedding anniversary in Hawaii.

He enjoyed watching television; especially nature programs, professional boxing and wrestling. He enjoyed gardening, wood working, metal crafts and painting in his retirement.

He is survived by his wife Janet, “the love of his life.” They were married 65 years and 11 months. He is survived by his four daughters, Carol Wiebusch-Potter (Willard Potter) of McAllen, TX, Corliss “Corky” (Luther) Olson of Lanesboro, Cheryl (Michael) Riley of Papillion, NE and Candace Peterson (Phillip Hall) of Rochester; sister, Selma “Sally” Wilke of Milton, FL; four grandchildren, Cynthia (Matthew) Rice of Golden Valley, Brock Wiebusch of Kalispell, MT, Tracey Nelson Yerkes of Rochester, and Trent (Tracy) Olson of Lanesboro; five great-grandchildren, Brady and Rachel Nelson, Derek Yerkes, Peyton and Reid Olson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Richard Melvin Peterson; five brothers and six sisters.

Per his wishes, no formal services will be held at this time. The body will be cremated and a private family memorial service will be held at a later date.

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