Richard Petersen

Richard Petersen of Sioux Falls, S.D., formerly of Irwin and Aurelia, died March 11, 2025, at Sanford / USD Medical Center, after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 74.

Richard Lee Petersen was born on April 21, 1950, to Norman and Lila (Ranniger) Petersen in Harlan. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Irwin. Rich attended Irwin-Kirkman Community High School where he graduated with the Class of 1968. After graduation, he enlisted at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, and honorably served nine years in the National Guard. While serving in the National Guard, Rich held a variety of jobs, including operating a service station, working for Western Engineering and trucking over the road.

Rich married Linda Hansen in 1972 and they had two children together, Eric and Christopher. The two later separated.

While working at Western Engineering, Rich met Pam Petersen and they married on Oct. 11, 1980. Two children were born to this union, Bryce and Bryan. Rich and Pam were married for 32 years, until her passing in 2012. They lived in rural Storm Lake, while Rich worked as a farm manager for Bil-Mar for 20 years. The family moved to Aurelia in 2002, and Rich began working for Koster Grain as their shipping and receiving manager. In 2008, Rich accepted a position as a custodian with the Alta-Aurelia School system, where he worked until 2019.

Rich and Mavis met at a dance in Everly by mutual friends in 2014. He retired in June 2019, sold his house in July and they were married in August. They lived in Sioux Falls, S.D., and joined Our Savior's Lutheran Church. They spent many holidays with her children, Travis (Jeanne) Gran and Nicole (Lee) Harding and her grandchildren: Narissa, Ava, Gift, Aurora, Emma and Radlee.

Rich was the true epitome of "work hard, play hard." He loved hunting, grilling/cooking for his family and friends, camping and attending dances with Pam. Rich also had a passion for restoring vehicles and old tractors, including his father's McCormick Farmall C tractor that was used on their family farm. He will be remembered as being a truly kind person who loved getting to know people, and he was the happiest when other people were happy.

Rich was preceded in death by his parents, Norman and Lila Petersen; his former wife Pam Petersen; his sister Nancy Wright; and his special aunt Elsie Myers.

He is survived by his wife Mavis Petersen of Sioux Falls, S.D.; sisters, Connie Davis of Des Moines; and Donna (Lorren) Hollister of Council Bluffs; sons: Eric Petersen, Christopher Petersen, Bryce Petersen and Bryan Petersen; aunt Charlotte Aten of Council Bluffs; granddaughters, Cayden Petersen and Laci Petersen; nieces and nephews; step-children and step-grandchildren; good friend Devin Draper of Omaha, Neb.; and many relatives and friends.

Memorial Service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, at First United Methodist Church in Aurelia with Rev. Brenton Lopez officiating. Interment will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery in Irwin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 31, with lunch to follow at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Irwin. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the June E. Nylen Cancer Center in Sioux City.