Robert "Bob" J. Petersen

Robert J. "Bob" Petersen of Sioux Falls died Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at the Dougherty hospice House after a battle with brain cancer. He was 79. Bob Petersen was born on February 8, 1935 at Centerville, SD to Roy and Alpha (Mortensen) Petersen. He attended grade school and graduated from Irene, SD. After serving in the US Army he returned to South Dakota and farmed in the Hurley area for 31 years. He was united in marriage to Marilee Benson on December 27, 1955. Together they had four children. Bob quit farming in 1988 due to health problems. He moved to Sioux Falls and worked alongside his wife installing drapes for 20 years. Once a farmer always a farmer. Bob enjoyed going to the farm, hauling grain, running for parts, checking crops, and doing lots of fix it projects for his children. Bob never missed a chance to inquire about the weather, rain or shine. For many years Bob enjoyed his Black Hills cabin, snowmobiling and four wheeling. He loved hunting with his family and West River friends. The time spent with his grandchildren will be cherished forever. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Marilee; a daughter Laura (Mike) Flyger, Sioux Falls; 2 sons Paul (Annette) Petersen and Ron (Lisa) Petersen, all of Hurley; 7 grandchildren, Austin (Kirsten Propst) Flyger, Thomas Flyger, Grant Flyger, Brett (Tracy) Petersen, Emily (Josh) Weiland, Angie (Josh) Boyer, and Mitch Petersen and 4 great grandchildren, Zoey and Landry Petersen and Hendrix and Munroe Boyer; and a sister Verna Barclay, Hollywood, FL. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Mark (Sparky) Petersen, a sister Leora Gapa, and a brother in infancy, Vernon. A prayer service will be at Bethany Lutheran Church in Hurley on Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. The family will be present from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. A memorial service will begin at 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 27 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, with the Rev. Tim Lemme officiating. The committal will be in the Hurley Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to a charity of ones choice.