Roy Peterson

Antler

George Roy Peterson, 94, rural Antler, died Saturday, March 23, 2024, at a Minot assisted living facility.

Roy entered this world on Dec. 5, 1929, at his family home on the farm in rural Antler, to Erland âEdã and Bertha (Stensland) Peterson. He often reminisced on his elementary school years attending a Sherman Township two room country school. In the winter, his dad would hitch up a sled to a team of horses that would take him to school and home again without anyone driving them. His high school days were spent in the halls of the Mohall school. Anyone that knew Roy knows he had big hands, like really big! Though this was helpful when he was working on the farm, more delicate tasks such as typing proved to be a bit more difficult. The same fingers that could twist off the tightest nut on the farm caused him to hit multiple keys on a typewriter at the same time. His typing teacher finally passed him in the class for perseverance, not because he could type. Roy graduated from Mohall High School in 1947.

On Jan. 1, 1953, Roy married the love of his life, Esther Drangsholt. Though they had been married for 71 years, Roy never missed the opportunity to introduce Esther as his beautiful bride. He marveled at how he could have been so lucky to have been able to marry such an amazing woman. Together Roy and Esther raised two children, Darlyne and Darwin. He passed along his love of God, importance of family, hard work and surrounding yourself with community to his children.

Roy never had the opportunity to go to college because he had to help on the farm. When his father passed away, Roy and older brother Donny took over the family farming and ranching operation. Roy was the epitome of a hard-working man. His passion for farming never led him to truly retire. Even into his late 80’s, Roy could be found in a payloader burying rock piles or digging up trees or climbing into the combine with his cane in hand, while crossing his fingers that he did not plug the combine or overload the trucks. He rigged up a golf cart in his later years to be able to water the trees in his yard and was often accompanied by a great-grandchild or two.

He had phenomenal carpentry skills that were passed down to him from his father. At times, in the early years of farming, he needed a second and sometimes third job to subsidize his family’s income. He was a construction laborer during the building of Minot Air Force Base. During this time, he also perfected his welding skills working on area missile silos.

Roy, without hesitation, served the members of his community. He was a life-long member of the Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church, rural Antler. When it was decided to build a new church in 1978, he volunteered and took on the primary construction of the new structure along with mostly a volunteer crew from the community. Several years later, he oversaw the construction of the adjacent parsonage. As you drive through the local community and countryside, his construction skills can still be seen in the homes, barns, shops, and other buildings that he built.

His love for his community was also shown by his willingness to serve on several business and community boards such as: Antler Elevator Co-op, Sherman Township director, founding board member of the All-Season Rural Water Association, Antler Rural Fire District, and many years of dedication to the Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church Trustee and Cemetery boards.

You always had a friend in Roy. He proudly told stories of his mother accepting everyone into her home and so did Roy. You would see the twinkle in Roy’s eye and smile cross his face when he saw you walk in. He would clasp his hands together in eager anticipation of what you were going to tell him. All conversations between friends was best over a cup of hot coffee and a cookie. The coffee pot was always on in Roy and Esther’s home.

Roy enjoyed his time away from work as well. The very first car he owned was a Model âT.ã This interest always stayed with him, as he could be caught driving his bride to church occasionally or displaying his cars at local car shows. Even at the age of 90, he won the People’s Choice Award at a local car show, bringing a smile to his face that was as big as a high school boy that had snuck his first kiss. His other hobbies consisted of antique furniture restoration and a vast collection of antique sad irons. When visitors came over and inquired about his collection, family members would warn them to pack a sack lunch because the proud tour normally lasted several hours.

Roy had an unwavering love for God and eagerly waited for the day that he would finally go home to be with his Savior. His bible was always close by. Daily devotion and prayer strengthened his faith and sustained him through difficult and trying times. Unequivocally, his favorite bible verse was John 3:16.

Roy was a humble man that led a humble life. He was not a man that demanded to be at the front of the pack, but you could count on him to support everyone from the back. His legacy will live on through those that were lucky enough to have been able to love him.

Family: Roy’s loving family includes his beautiful bride, Esther Peterson; two children and their spouses, Darlyne (Peterson) and Kenneth Roed, and Darwin and Leisa (Johnson) Peterson; grandchildren Kristine (Roed) and Clinton Rymel, David and Brandi (Kizzer) Roed, Matthew and Lindsay (Paulson) Peterson, Dana (Peterson) and Dakota Tonneson, Chase and Charlene (Carlson) Johnson, and Tristen, Brayden, and Ashlynn Johnson; great-grandchildren, Joshua, Abigail and Caleb Butts, Emma and Olivia Roed, Luke and Sheyanne Peterson, Tatum and Ivy Tonneson, Madelyn and Gordon Johnson, and Wrenleigh Lupton; sister-in-law, Beverly (Buddy) Peterson; brother-in-law, Lloyd (Marion) Gates; and numerous nephews, nieces and their families.

Roy was preceded in death by: his parents; and siblings, Delores (Lawrence) Mattern, Donald Peterson, Esther Peterson, Harold Peterson, Ruth (Marvin) Baska, Buddy Peterson, and Marian (Lloyd) Gates.

A private Celebration of Life will be held for Roy on April 1st.

Burial: Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church Cemetery, rural Antler.

Friends may sign the online guestbook at brosefuneralhome.com.

Published by The Minot Daily News, March 27, 2024.