Obituary of Ronnie Petersen
A funeral service for Ronnie Petersen, 86, of Spirit Lake, will be held Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 10:30 AM at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake. Burial will be at Ocheyedan Township Cemetery in Ocheyedan. Visitation for Ronnie will be on Friday, May 20th from 5:00-8:00 PM at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake.
Ronald Wayne Petersen (age 86) was born south of Harris, IA, on September 12, 1935, to Soenke H. and Marie Dass Petersen.
He was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Ocheyedan, IA.
Ronnie attended Harris Community School. During the 11th grade when his mother became ill and his father was in Rochester, Minnesota with her, he had to quit school to farm.
In 1954, he enlisted in the Army serving in South Korea as a Specialist 3. Ronnie was a member of the Honor Guard who marched on special occasions for the Generals and Dignitaries. After his military service, he returned home to farm with his father.
One evening while roller skating in Spencer, IA, Ronnie met the love of his life, Mary Louise Valen. They were united in marriage on February 8, 1958, in Estherville, IA. To this union, they had three children. Their first two homes were in rural Ocheyedan, IA. In 1966, they moved to the Petersen Family Farm south of Harris, IA, and lived there for 40 years.
Ronnie farmed for 60 years and had a farm drainage business for 35 years. During their marriage, Mary worked side by side with him. Ronnie was a hard worker and jack of all trades. If he didn’t know how to fix it, he figured it out. When he was not working, he loved to have fun.
He loved to dance, spend time with family and friends, and attend Skylar’s ballgames and activities. They vacationed in the winter after their children were in high school.
They moved to their current home in Spirit Lake, IA, in 2009.
He served as a director on the Ocheyedan Co-op Elevator Board, was a member of the American Legion, member and held several offices at the St. Peter Lutheran Church, and member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake.
Ronnie passed away peacefully on May 15, 2022, at his home in Spirit Lake.
To cherish his memories are his wife, Mary; children, Julie (Tim) Baumgard of Brewster, MN, Richard Petersen of Des Moines, IA, Steve Petersen (Chana Cudmore) of Harris, IA, and Skylar Cudmore of Sioux Falls, SD; sister, Lois (Ron) Skinner; sisters and brothers in-law, Dorothy Raney, Barbara Mull, Katherine (Glen) Roberts and LaDonna (Harland) Bergeson; brother and sister-in-law, Donald (Leila) Valen; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his step-mothers, Mildred Glade Petersen and Ann Bonehart Petersen; brother, Arlen Petersen; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Isder; brothers-in-law, Charles Raney and Chunny Mull; nephews, Kelly Petersen, Charles Raney and Anthony Mull and niece, Gwen Petersen.