Donald Myron Petersen

Petersen, Donald Myron A life-long resident of North Minneapolis. Born 9/9/1920; died 2/3/2009 at the age of 88. Don was preceded in death by his parents, P. Arthur and Mary Petersen; his beloved big brothers, Richard and Philip, who always looked out for Don; infant daughter, Margaret, and niece, Carol. He is survived by his cherished wife of 68 years, Margaret; and five daughters and one son: Randi Mason (Jim), Fergus Falls; Patricia Kelly (Bill), Minneapolis; Thomas Petersen, Dallas; Valerie Kaaria (Keith), Brooklyn Park; Paula Petersen, Minneapolis; and Megan Petersen, Minneapolis. Don is also survived by seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren: Natalie Salden (Todd), Chaska; Erin Hoyt (Eric), Fergus Falls; Alison Gerst (Greg), Richfield; Alex Miller (fiancée, Jennifer Meyer), Fridley; Vanessa Sarraute (Luc), Paris, Fr.; Sonia Kaaria and Jon Kaaria, Brooklyn Park; Max and Hailey Salden, and Mason Arthur Hoyt. Don's sister-in-law, Helen Petersen, Phil's wife, also survives him as do four Petersen nephews. Don was a WW II Navy Veteran, having served on an LST in the southern invasion of France and was on a destroyer-escort, the Don O. Woods, en route to the Pacific Theater when the war ended, and he was awarded a lifetime membership in the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). He was a 28-year veteran and retiree of the U.S. Postal Service and a member of the NALC, and worked for his dear friend, the late Gordy McDonald, at McDonald's Liquor for many years. Upon retirement, Don was active for several years in the Lind-Bohanon neighborhood, where he participated in planning for the new Jenny Lind school and was instrumental in the creation of "Alice Rainville, George Hill Square." The family thanks the wonderful caregivers in the Lodge at the Wellstead of Rogers, and the North Memorial Home Hospice. Services will be held Friday, February 6th, 2 p.m. with visitation one hour before the service at Hillside Funeral Chapel, 2610 -19th Ave. NE, Mpls. Private burial Monday at Ft. Snelling. Memorials are preferred to Doctors Without Borders, 333 Seventh Avenue, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10001-5004 or at www.doctorswithoutborders.org. Washburn-McReavy Hillside Chapel 612-781-1999

This obituary was originally published in the Star Tribune.