Willard Peterson

Willard "Pete" Peterson, 84, of St. Paul, formerly of Orange County, CA, died Monday, April 28, 2008 at the Howard County Community Hospital in St. Paul.



Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday at Grace Baptist Church in St. Paul. The Reverend Pat Moore will officiate. Inurnment will be in Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul. There will not be any visitation, Mr. Peterson was cremated.



Military honors will be presented by Carl Mogensen American Legion Post #119 of St. Paul.



Jacobsen-Greenway Funeral Home in St. Paul is in charge of arrangements.



Pete was born October 18, 1923 in St. Louis, MO. He was raised in Meridian, MS by his aunt and uncle, Violet and Bernice Peterson.



Pete graduated from high school in Meridian, MS.



He was united in marriage to Lillie Bentley on February 4, 1967 in Long Beach, CA. The couple made their home in Long Beach for two years before moving to Orange County, where they lived for thirty six years and raised their family.



Pete proudly served in the Army and was honorably discharged in 1945. Following his military service, he worked as a medical technician for the Veterans Administration of Long Beach until his retirement. To keep busy, he obtained a position as a school bus driver with the Centrailia School District. He was loved by his fellow workers and students and retired after ten years.



He was an avid bowler and spent much time supporting his children in their sports and artistic endeavors.



Pete and Lillie moved to St. Paul in April, 2006, to be near their family and only grandchild.



Survivors include his wife, Lillie of St. Paul; a daughter and son-in-law, Vickie and Paul Nielsen of St. Paul; and a son Michael Peterson of Mission Viejo, CA. Pete was the proud grandfather of one grandson, Randy Nielsen of St. Paul.



He was preceded in death by Violet and Bernice Peterson.