Lawrence D. Peterson passed away on his 83rd birthday, June 18th, 2025, from a rare, fast growing, incurable thyroid cancer at the Minneapolis Veterans Hospital. His wife was by his side and his son nearby. Larry’s request, rather than a funeral, was that we gather for a picnic to share stories. This will be held at a later date and will be announced on this website. Ruth hopes to put the stories together into booklet form so that Larry’s 5 year old grandson will be able to know his “Grandpa Pete” as he gets older. At Ruth’s request, if you have a story and time to share it, please send an email to randl@bevcomm.net

Lawrence/Larry Peterson was born in Buffalo Center Iowa to Jerome and Bernice (Bye) Peterson on June 18, 1942. Larry was 100% Norwegian born in Iowa, or as he would say, “a true Iowegian”. This heritage led him into frequent “Ole and Lena” skits for various family and community celebrations. He would dress in costume, replicate a thick Norwegian accent, and regale the crowd with corny jokes. This would bring lots of laughter to the gatherings – and a little embarrassment to his then pre-teen son.

Larry’s life was defined by his humor, stories, jokes, and his ability to share levity with others.

He maintained life-long connections through things like an annual Christmas joke page he mailed to a list of hundreds. Among his stories are college pranks such as burying the biology lab skeleton to be discovered by the St Peter Sheriff and impersonating the Gustavus Adolphus College President to call off classes and avoid an unwanted test. There are nursing home stories of him, working as a nurses’ aid, going into residents rooms wearing metal bed pans on his feet and urinals hooked around his waist to get them to smile. There are also reflections of his days as an educator. Under the humor there was an innate teacher who loved helping his students succeed. Larry chose to be there for those who struggled. During college, Larry and friends planned to take a year off and work their way to Europe.

However, the “writing was on the wall” as he said for the Vietnam War. Larry graduated, volunteered for the Air Force, and became a pilot. He was shot down on his first mission of 100. “One down, 99 to go” he relayed. The story of that adventure was included in the book “Up Front in Vietnam” and an associated Readers Digest. He was shot down a second time before volunteering for the dangerous switch from fighter jets to Forward Air Control duty. The Vietnam experience became another defining part of his life. Some of those stories are more difficult to tell.

After returning Larry met his wife, Ruth, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation where she was a teacher, and he was a volunteer. Married in 1973, they had one son, Aaron, in 1981. During Aaron’s preschool years, they delivered Winnebago motor homes throughout North America memories as a family, and creating more stories.

Larry went back to college later in life to become an elementary special education teacher. He finished out his career as a special ed teacher in Minnesota Lake, MN. Outside of school, both before and after retirement, he mentored students with physical or mental disabilities or those with other home/life challenges. He brought new experiences, smiles, and fun when those things were lacking. Still there for those who struggled, still a source for laughter, and still creating more stories.

Larry is survived by his wife, Ruth, his son, Aaron, daughter-in-law, Paula, and grandson, Rory. He is also survived by many loved extended family members and many friends gathered over his lifetime. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Barb and his brother Richard.

We only have so many days to live this physical life we then become a memory in someone else’s mind. May your memories of Larry bring you smiles.