Vern C. Peterson, 91

Vern C. Peterson

Winnebago Vern C. Peterson, age 91, of Amboy, died Saturday, March 2, 2013, at the Mapleton Community Home. Memorial Services were held on March 15, 2013, at the Amboy United Methodist Church in Amboy. Spencer-Owen Funeral Home of Winnebago assisted the family with the arrangements.

Vern C. Peterson was born Nov. 3, 1921, in Shelby Township, Blue Earth County near Amboy to Edwin and Harriet (Krause) Peterson. He was raised on the Peterson farm just southwest of Amboy on the Blue Earth River. He attended country school and later Amboy High School, completing grade 8 before being called to the family farm for his help there. He worked for many area farmers for a number of years learning many skills that would help him later in life.

Vern was married to Ruth E. Riley on Oct. 4, 1940, at Gordonsville. Vern and Ruth continued to do farm work for area farmers before moving to their current farm southeast of Amboy; they started farming on their own on March 1, 1956. They continued to farm and then retire on the farm known as Sterling Hills on the shore of the former Jackson Lake for the rest of their years.

Vern was an avid horseman, enjoying riding and driving horses, and for many years raised Reg. Belgian horses, under the Sterling prefix in the register. Vern was an accomplished plowman with his Belgian horses winning many contests; he was also in demand as a judge for horse plowing contests. He also enjoyed hand corn husking contests and competed at the National level on two occasions. He enjoyed history and was a good storyteller of local events. He also enjoyed restoring old machinery and tinkering in his shop. He enjoyed his time spent with family and friends and the fellowship it brought.

Vern was a member of the Amboy United Methodist Church, Belgian Draft Horse Corp., Minnesota Horse Breeders Association., and a Charter Member of the Gopher Saddle Club.

He is survived by his son, Mark, of Amboy; sister, Betty Pahl, of Vernon Center; daughter-in-law, Susan Peterson-Johnson, of Blue Earth; two grandchildren, Sarah (Mike) Summerbell, of Andover, and Wade (DeeAnn) Peterson, of New Ulm; five great-grandchildren, Jared, Danica and Derek Nelson, and Erin and Annika Summerbell; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ruth, in 2006; sons, Larry and Dean Peterson; an infant brother, Lyle; a brother, Lee Peterson; and a sister, Shirley Peterson.

Web tributes may be left at www.spencerowen.com