John "Walt" Peterson

John Walter Peterson was born August 15, 1935 in Clark South Dakota.  He passed away November 16, 2023 at the St Cloud VA at the age of 88. 

“Walt” was raised in the Becker/Big Lake area, the youngest of 5 children.  He enlisted and served in the US army airborne as a paratrooper.  Walt made 27 jumps, 4 more than any other of his group.  He married Barbara Ann West and they had 5 children.  In his early years he enjoyed bowling, horseshoe league and was a volunteer for the Big Lake fire department. Walt worked as a truck driver for most of his life.  One of his biggest achievements was getting his aviation license and owning his own small plane.  Walt loved his country music and listened to it most of each day.

He is preceded in death by his parents: Axel and Rosa (Gerhardt) Peterson; siblings: WIlbur, Selma, Suzanna, and Robert; sons, Perry and Terry; and the mother of his children, Barbara Peterson.

Walt is survived by his children, Jeff, Sherry (Tomas) and Mike; 8 grandchildren: Matthew, Sarah, Jessesca, Nathan, Tomas, Daniel, Joel and Callie; 15 great-grandchildren, other family and friends. Internment will be at Fort Snelling in St. Paul.

Memorial service at 1:00PM on Saturday, December 2, 2023 at Peterson-Grimsmo Chapel, 250 E Broadway, Monticello, with visitation starting at Noon.

***The memorial will be streamed on Zoom and can be accessed by clicking the Blue Button labelled "Click Here to Access the Video" below this obituary shortly before the service begins and entering Passcode 010506.***

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