Ralph A. Peterson

Ralph Allen Peterson, 87, of Aberdeen, SD, died Friday, August 30th, 2024, at Avera St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen.

His services will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Aberdeen.  Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 6th, followed by the rosary at 7:00 p.m.  Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 7th.  Fr. Gregory Tschakert will officiate.  Lunch and fellowship will follow in the church hall.  After lunch, burial will be at St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery in Clark, SD.

God decided on August 30th that he needed a man who woke up each morning of his 87 years and saw the sunshine even when it was cloudy.

God needed a man who knew what love was, as he spent 65 years with the love of his life Mary Lou Adams.  Ralph found it very easy to tell his son Todd and daughter-in-law he loved them at the end of every phone call and at the end of every visit.

On August 29th, 2013, the love in Ralph's heart grew 100 times when his grandson and best buddy Trace was born.

My dad was born on May 27th, 1937, to another loving, hard working man Mason Peterson and his wife Margret Stacey.  From his dad, Ralph learned the value of hard work, and being a kind, caring man.  He also learned the love of fishing.

From a very young age, dad took great pride in working hard and always doing his best.  The recipients of my dad's tireless hours of labor were various farmers around the Bradley and Stratford area (Nelson's creamery, the R.E. Huffman Company, South Dakota Department of Labor, and Avera Hospital).

Graduating from Bradley High School was an accomplishment, but not the last educational advancement Ralph would earn.  He was part of the first office machine repair class at Lake Area Technical School.  He also received graduation certificates from Devry Technical Schools, the University of South Dakota, and numerous course completion certificates from companies such as AB Dick, and the Royal Office Machine Company.

Those who knew and loved this happy, hardworking, and caring man can take solace in the fact that he no longer is in pain, is able to walk, and is spending time with his infant daughter, Tracey.

Thanks Dad for enriching our lives daily.  We love you.

Ralph Peterson is survived by his wife of 65 years Mary Lou, son Todd, daughter-in-law Cassie, and his grandson and best buddy Trace, brother-in-law Jim, a niece and nephew, many cousins, and two cousins who were more like brothers Lavern and Elwood Peterson.

He was preceded in death by his parents Margret and Mason, sister Mary Lou, mother-in-law Irma Adams, and daughter Tracey.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Furness Funeral Home of Clark, where there is an online registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com.