DAGMAR, Mont. - Alvin Petersen, 82, of Dagmar, died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2004, at Sheridan Memorial Hospital in Plentywood.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. MST Friday, Jan. 9, at Nathanael Lutheran Church in Dagmar. Pastor Kristy Daniels will officiate and interment will follow at Nathanael Cemetery.
Alvin was born March 20, 1921, at the Dagmar farm home of his parents, Svend and Johanne (Nielsen) Petersen. He grew up there, was educated at the Emerson School and graduated from Antelope High School in 1940. He worked on the family farm, and rented it after his father's death in 1944.
He married Bernice Haugen on Oct. 19, 1947, at Nathanael Church at Dagmar. They made their home on the farm until retiring to Plentywood. In 1973, Alvin became manager of the Dagmar store and spent 17 wonderful years working with and for everyone in the community.
Alvin was a gentle spirit whose highest priority was his family. He always supported community events and activities, and while he enjoyed farming and his work in the store, the best parts of life were simply visiting with people.
He was a life-long member of Nathanael Church, of the Danish Brotherhood, and a lifetime member of the Moose Lodge. He and Bernice belonged the Nor'East Traveler's camping club and his family recalls that the highlight of every year was the camping trips ... seeing all the sights, visiting with others in the campgrounds and savoring everything to be found in Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas and Alberta.
Alvin smiled a lot, liked to laugh, and took great pride in the diverse heritage of his entire family. His children recall that he could watch TV, play cards, nap and work a crossword puzzle ... all at the same time!
He always started harvest on a Sunday, even if it was only one round and would never pick rocks in the fall. "What if they're not there in the spring? Or what if I'm not?"
Alvin and Bernice were avid dancers, and loved to support their children's bands, especially when they played the "old favorites!"
Alvin is survived by his wife, Bernice, of Plentywood; his daughter, Jackie Ehrhardt and her husband, Dale, of Gladmar, Saskatchewan, Canada; twin sons, Joel and his wife, Tracy, of Plentywood and Jerald and his wife, Louise, of Wolf Point; seven grandchildren, Adam and Arin Ehrhardt, Randy Keith, Jane and Dahsen Petersen and David and Kristen Petersen; and one great-grandson, Damian Ehrhardt; a brother, Gerald and his wife Phyllis, of Corvallis, Ore.; and a sister-in-law, Ruth Petersen of Plentywood.
Alvin was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, two named George, one in infancy, the other as a child and Emil, Carl, and Oluf; and a sister, Martha Brenteson.
Friends may call at the Fulkerson Funeral Home in Plentywood.
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