Roger L. Peterson

Roger Luvern Peterson, age 84, passed away on September 21, 2024. A celebration of life will be held from 5 pm-7 pm on Thursday, September 26th at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church 74427 245th St, Albert Lea MN, 56007. The funeral will be held at 11 am Friday, September 27th with a visitation an hour before service at 10 am, both will be at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church. Burial will be at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church Cemetery. Reverend Matt Griggs will be officiating.

Roger was born November 14, 1939, to Peter and Viola (Jensen) Peterson in Dane County, Wisconsin. At the young age of 4, Roger and his family moved to a farm near Clarks Grove, MN. He attended a one-room schoolhouse (District 137) and then graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1957. Shortly thereafter he joined the Army National Guard and served for two years. Not long after that, he attended Austin Community College and then the University of MN. He was invited by his Father and Grandfather to join them in their family farming operation which he would continue through his whole life. (It was very apparent he loved the spring and autumn weather because he would be out every day with his tireless work ethic in farming) In 1964 Roger met his wife of 58 years and 11 months, Donna Stalhiem (a student nurse) on a blind date to the movie ‘The CarpetBaggers’. It was a match made in heaven, Roger liked to eat, and Donna liked to cook. On October 16, 1965, Roger and Donna got married at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church.

Roger had an unwavering dedication towards community involvement related to agriculture. He served on many local, state, and national levels such as the Minnesota Corn and Soybean Growers Association, Shell Rock Rivershed District, and The National Biodiesel Board, receiving many awards along the way. He is a lifelong member (baptized, confirmed, and married) of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church. Roger served in many positions over many years including the cemetery board up until 2023 where he then resided as a member of the congregation. Roger has a very firm foundation in his faith in God never missing a chance to let his loved ones know that he is praying for them and that Jesus cares about them. In the mid-late 70’s Roger got his pilot's license and traveled around the country with his family. Roger enjoyed music starting from a young age, it started by singing with his mother while milking cows in their dairy barn. He has a love for various kinds of music including music of the ‘50s and ’60s, Gospel, bluegrass, and classical. He also enjoyed going to concerts and singing in the church choir. This love for music also encouraged their three children to play numerous musical instruments.

Roger is survived by his wife Donna Peterson; daughter, Kimberly Von (Aventura, FL); sons, Nathan Peterson (Clarks Grove, MN), and Matthew (Aimee) Peterson (Albert Lea, MN); six grandchildren, Andrew Peterson, Austin (Brianna) Peterson, Kathryn Peterson, Ariel Azizy, Ethan Azizy, and Elan Azizy; sister; Eunice Bakken (Albert Lea, MN); brothers in-law, Kenton Stalhiem (Corry, PA), David (Linda) Stalhiem (Deer Park, WI); sister-in-law, Nancy (Al) Herbers (Holmen, WI); many nieces, nephews, friends, coworkers, and neighbors.

He is preceded to heaven by his parents, Peter and Viola; father and mother-in-law, Kenton and Gertrude Stalhiem; brother-in-law, Harold Bakken.

Roger has said many times in the past few years “I have lived a good life, I got to work aside my parents, grandfather, wife, children, grandchildren, and special dedicated neighbor-coworkers Earl B. Thompson and Paul Romer and their families. I have lived in the best of times. God’s Peace”

The service will be live-streamed, and can be watched from the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home Facebook page at the following link:  https://www.facebook.com/share/Fqtu2WFWFjZ39Wno/