Merle Peterson, 96, of Watertown, formerly of Bradley, South Dakota, passed away on July 11, 2026, at Avantara Watertown.  Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. at Furness Funeral Home in Clark, SD on Saturday, July 18, 2026.  Burial will take place at Prairie Hill Cemetery in Bradley, South Dakota.  A time of visitation will be held the evening prior, Friday, July 17, 2026, at Furness Funeral Home from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m.

Merle Wendell Peterson was born on February 14, 1930, to Basil and Violet (Barton) Peterson.  He was born at home with a midwife present.  Merle attended school in Thorp, and graduated from Bradley in 1948.

Merle and Lucille Schaenbeck were married on March 18, 1951.

To this union 3 children were born-daughter Linette and sons Ron and Doyle.  They started their married life farming and continued farming through a career with the U.S. Postal Service in Webster and Wallace, SD.  

Merle is survived by his daughter Linette (Terry) Batterman, sons Ron (Diane) and Doyle; 7 grandkids; and 10 great-grandkids.

Preceding him in death are his wife, Lucille; his parents; his brother Dale, Dale's wife Alyce, and their son, Matthew.