Peterson, Roger William Rev. -- 1934 - 1998

PETERSON, VOEHL, MATTSON, NOLTNER, THOMSON, MICHAELS

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 6/7/2010 at 17:31:45

Decorah Journal, Thursday, Dec. 31, 1998.
......Press Time Bulletin

ROGER W. PETERSON, 64, of Decorah, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1998, at his home.

Arrangements are pending at the Fjelstul Funeral Home.

Survivors include his wife, Colleen; three daughters, Miri Mattson of Rochester, Minn., Kari Noltner of Eau Claire, Wis., and Sarah Thomson of Apple Valley, Minn.; and one son, Kent of Shawnee Mission, Kan.
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Decorah Public Opinion, Tuesday, Jan 5, 1999

Roger Peterson

The Rev. Roger William Peterson, 64, of Decorah, died of cancer Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1998, at his home.

Funeral services were held at First Lutheran Church, Decorah, Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999, with the Bishop April Ulring Larson of the La Crosse Area Synod of the ELCA and the Rev. Steven Jacobsen officiating.

Special music included "Behold a Host" by the Luren Singing Society; a guitar solo by the Rev. Mike Blair, "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me;" and congregational hymns of "Lift High the Cross" and "Borning Cry." Diane Kvamme was the organist.

Casket bearers were Roger Amundson, Barry Freuchte, the Rev. John Gorder, the Rev. Msgr. E. W. Lechtenberg, Todd Michaels and the Rev. Joseph Nesheim.

Honorary bearers were Roger Berg, LaVerne Busse, Kevin Conover and Duane Weltha.

Interment was at the Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah. The Fjelstul Funeral Home handled arrangements.

A memorial service will be held for the Luther College community Friday, Jan. 8, at the 10 a.m. chapel convocation.

Roger was born Sept. 23, 1934, in Cashton, Wis., the son of Irie and Evangeline Peterson. He was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Cashton.

He was married to Colleen Voehl June 28, 1958, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lakefield, Minn. Together they raised four children, Miri, Kari, Kent and Sarah.

Roger attended country school for grades 1-8 in the Portland Township. In 1952, he graduated from Cashton High School.

He received his bachelor of arts degree from Luther College in 1956. He continued his education at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., graduating in 1960 with a Master of Divinity degree.

Roger was ordained into the Lutheran ministry June 26, 1960, at his home church.

Roger served Lutheran churches of Lily and Butler in Lily, S.D., 1960-63; East and West Clermont in Clermont, 1963-67; Ascension in Marion, 1967-71; and St. Paul in Holstein, 1971-81.

He became involved in specialized ministry by serving as director of church relations at Luther College from December of 1981 through his retirement Oct. 1, 1998.

As director of church relations, Roger conducted the Founding Congregation Program, implement the Church Youth Fest, and initiated and led the Congregation Heritage Workshop annually from 1982-98.

He was awarded the Faithfulness in Ministry Cross, from Luther Seminary in 1996 for specialized ministry.

Roger was well known for his involvement in numerous church and community organizations. He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Decorah, the Luren Singing Society, the Norwegian Singers Association of America and the Norsemen Federation. He served on the boards of several community hospitals and sheltered workshops.

Roger traveled extensively for Luther College. His work included project mission trips to Jamaica, Poland and Slovakia. His zest for life and love of travel took him to the Middle East, Scandinavia, Europe, Asia and across North America.

He enjoyed the art of photography and had several photos featured in journals and magazines.

Survivors include his wife, Colleen, and children and grandchildren Miri and Paul Mattson, Maren, Berit and Erik of Rochester, Minn.; Kari and Dr. Steve Noltner, Michael and Bethany of Eau Claire, Wis.; Kent and Dr. Lois Peterson of Shawnee Mission, Kan.; and Sarah and John Thomson of Apple Valley, Minn.

Other survivors include his brothers, the Rev. Harold and Margene Peterson of Sun City, Ariz., Jon and Sandra Peterson of Cashton, Wis., Donald and Dorothy Peterson of Cashton, Wis., and the Rev. Luther and Bonnie Peterson of Valley City, N. D.; one sister, Elizabeth and Robert Michaels of Banjor, Wis.; and other nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

Roger Peterson was preceded in death by his parents and a grandnephew.
An endowment scholarship has been established at Luther College for the Roger W. Peterson and Colleen F. Peterson Church Relations Scholarship: Luther College Advancement Office, 700 College Drive, Decorah Iowa 52101.
Contributions also may be made to Hospice of Winneshiek County, 901
Montgomery, Decorah, Iowa 52101.
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Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.