Ray Petersen

Kearney — Ray D Petersen, 90, of Kearney passed away April 18, 106, at home. Services will be held on Friday April 22, 2016 at 10:30 AM at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow. The Rev. Scott Guthrie will officiate. Burial will be at the Broken Bow Cemetery with military rites. Visitation will be held on Thursday April 21, 2016, 8 AM to 8 PM at Govier Bros. Mortuary with the family greeting friends, 5 PM to 7 PM at Govier Bros. Mortuary in Broken Bow. Ray was born Dec 1, 1925 on a farm near Mason City. He was the last surviving child of eight born to Christy and Marie (Neilsen) Petersen. He grew up in the Mason City area and attended a country school near Mason City. Ray helped out on the farm until entering the Army in September of 1946. He served in Korea from December 1946 and returned home in March 1948. Ray started farming for himself in 1949. He married the love of his life, Beverly JoAnn Trotter, on May 14, 1949 in Lexington. The couple lived and farmed in Custer County. During this time Ray worked at the Loup City and Sargent Livestock yards. Son, Douglas, was born in Broken Bow during this time in 1953. They moved to Cody, Nebraska for 18 months. In 1955 while in Cody their second son, David, was born in Martin, South Dakota. They moved back to Broken Bow for a short time then moved to Anselmo. Sons Roger and Mark were born in 1959 and 1962 in Broken Bow. In 1966 Ray and Beverly moved to Ansley where they ran the D & E Café and Station. In 1967 they purchased their farm north of Mason City. They lived in Independence, Kansas from 1984 to 1987. In 1987 they decided to move to Kearney to be closer to family. Ray and Beverly celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in May 2014. Ray loved raising his four boys, and he also enjoyed raising Quarter horses. Ray could start a conversation with anyone and never knew a stranger. He was well known for sharing a joke or riddle. Ray was a member of the Riverdale Christian Church. Among family and friends left to cherish his memory are his wife; Sons Doug (Julia), Lincoln, David (Gail), Chanute, KS, Roger (Deb), Kearney, and Mark (Nancy) Apple Valley, CA; Ten grandchildren Ray D Petersen, Cody (Angel) Petersen, Melissa (Grant) Ericksen, Cale Petersen, Addie Petersen, Kelsey (Todd) Tuetken, Kameron, Kyler, Kade and Krysta Petersen and one great-grandson, Colton. Memorials are suggested to Ronald McDonald House Charities, Inc. 26345 Network Place Chicago, IL 60673-1263. Ray and Beverly were thankful for the Ronald McDonald House accommodations used by son Mark and his wife Nancy when their son Kade was born with heart problems. The family also appreciated all the help they received from AseraCare as Ray’s health declined.