Douglas Victor Petersen

Dr. Douglas Petersen, long time dentist in Bloomington, MN passed away peacefully at home on November 19, 2025 at the age of 89 years. He was born on November 13, 1936 to William and Dorothy Petersen at North Memorial Hospital. He graduated from North High School in 1954; then from Hamline University and the University of Minnesota Dental School. While in college he worked loading trucks, painting houses, washing dishes, and at Northern States Power Black Dog Plant. In 1960, his sophomore year in dental school, he met and married Janet Reed, an RN at Northwestern Hospital where Doug worked part time as a medical aid. After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for his two years enlistment, where he was the only in army dentist who also played on the WRAMC varsity basketball team. After returning to MN, he bought a dental practice at 90th St.and Penn Ave, where he did exquisite cosmetic dentistry for over 35 years.

Doug and his wife raised three children, who enjoyed many trips on spring breaks and winter vacations traveling to golf resorts in California, Disney World in Florida, & Washington D.C. He bought a 180 acre farm bordering a lake near Fergus Falls, where the children learned to fish, explore all the land, and visit the barn where a farmer milked cows and had two work horses. Doug was an avid golfer and also loved to hike Yearly with friends in the mountains of Wyoming. He loved music and sang tenor in several choirs. He was also a masterful gardener who designed, planted and maintained beautiful flower gardens in a number of homes where he resided over the years. He coached all of his children in sports: basketball, soccer, & golf. When he retired & moved year round to Amelia Island, FL, he set up a dental clinic for the poor and worked five days a week as an unpaid volunteer doing mostly cosmetic dentistry to replace missing teeth.

In 2017 Doug & Janet returned to live in Minnesota near their children who all married and remained in the Minneapolis area. After fracturing a hip in 2023, his health failed until he died six days after his 89th birthday.

Doug was preceded in death by his parents, named above. He is survived by his wife Janet, his brother Bob (Dee), sons Steve (Beth) and Chris (Melissa) and daughter Linda (Klint) Klaas; grandchildren Erin (Ryan) Pearson, Kasanna Klaas, Kray Klaas, and Carly Petersen; brother-in-law James (Sandi) Reed, sister-in-law Carolyn (Tyronne) Carter, and Brother-in-law Lowell (Jan) Simons, as well as nieces and nephews.

Doug was a blessing to his friends, family, business associates and innumerable patients and his smile was remarkable. We are grateful that he is at peace with the Lord. Doug's memorial service will be on December 11, 2025 at 2:00 pm with visitation at 1:00 pm at Washburn-McReavy Bloomington Chapel at 2300 West Old Shakopee Road. It will be livestreamed for those who cannot attend. In lieu of flowers, any memorial gifts may be sent to The Salvation Army in Roseville.