John Peterson, 91 of Willow Lake, passed away on March 11, 2026, at the Estelline Care Center. Visitation was held on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at the Grace Lutheran Church in Willow Lake from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. also at Grace Lutheran Church in Willow Lake. A meal and time of fellowship will follow burial at Collins Cemetery in Willow Lake.
John was born on December 21, 1934, to Verna and Albert Peterson on the family farm west of Willow Lake, S.D. He was named after his grandfather, John Peterson who came from Sweden and was an early pioneer in the Lake Township. John graduated from Willow Lake High School in 1952 and then was employed as a lineman with Northwestern Bell Telephone near Flandreau.
On October 16, 1954, John married his high school sweetheart, Marlyce Haug. He fell in love with her dimples, smiles and singing, and Marlyce loved the twinkle in his eyes and his winks. When they were dating, John was always there to pick her up from the Galloping Goose train, and he only was stuck once in a snowbank driving on her parents' farm. They were happily married for 61 years before Marlyce's passing in 2015.
John farmed all his life, working to conserve the land while growing crops, raising hogs and cattle. John was a member of Grace Lutheran Church holding many offices over the years and made the bell tower for the church. He served on Lake Township Board, and he enjoyed his bowling league and playing baseball.
John always had time to start a game of baseball in the yard with his kids, get kites ready to fly on Easter, pick asparagus and wild roses for Marlyce, fix a fishing line for his children, hunt with his sons and son-in-laws. He enjoyed his Louie L'Amour books, westerns, puzzles, making rings and collecting rocks and coins.
His family will always be grateful for having shared his life. John is survived by his children: Tim (Mary) Peterson of Springfield, Jayne (Donald) Pommer of Willow Lake, Beth (Richard) Abrahamson of Oldham, Pamela (Michael) Nass of Flandreau, Carol (James) Laverick of Custer, Kenneth (Donna) Peterson of Springfield and Amy (Ryan) Forbes of Volga; 19 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; sister Vivian Johnsen, brother Gary Peterson, brother-in-law Bob Carroll, sister-in-law Dorothy Haug; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
John was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Marlyce, his infant sister Lorna Peterson, sister Joy Carroll, brother Larry Peterson, son-in-law Morgan Borden and granddaughter Kendra Borden.
