Merle Leroy Peterson

Merle Leroy Peterson died on April 7, 2015, after a long battle with COPD at the age of 86 years old. Merle was born on April 23, 1928, to Wendell and Sylvia Peterson in Viborg, SD. He was the oldest of five children. When he was nine years old Merle’s father purchased a farm in Stockholm, SD and he helped on the family farm until he enlisted in the military. Merle entered the US Air Force in 1951 and served his country during the Korean War. While stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas, he met and married Georgia Miller. He was transferred to March Air Force Base in California where he was a crew chief on the B-47 Stratojet and was temporarily assigned to London, England. Merle returned to farming in Stockholm after his discharge from the military. In 1960, he moved the family to Minneapolis where he worked at Northwest Airlines while attending Brown Institute. He was an electronics technician and the Service Department Manager at Schmitt Music Company. He later started his own telecommunications business. Merle had great mechanical aptitude and could fix just about anything. Georgia passed away in 1981. In 1985, Merle married Marcine Nightengale. He built a home on Lake Ida, in Alexandria, where Merle and Marcine enjoyed their retirement. He loved taking his grandchildren boating and fishing. Merle and Marcine traveled extensively in the US and abroad. Merle was preceded in death by his wife, Georgia; his parents. He is survived by his wife, Marcine of 30 years; his daughter, Cheryl Alcaya (Carlos); sons: Kevin & Keith; stepchildren: Jodi Nightengale Kelly Edwards, Lisa Moore (Tony); his adored grandchildren: Spencer, Sophie and Samuel; sister, Marjorie Allison; brothers: Maynard, Maurice, Allan; many nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2015, 11:00 a.m. at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Leaf Valley Township. Burial will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home. www.andersonfuneral.net Memorials are preferred to COPD Foundation 3300 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Miami, FL 33134 (copdfoundation.org) or the Ebenezer Construction Fund 13070 Co. Rd. 6 NW Leaf Valley, MN 56308

Merle Leroy Peterson

April 23, 1928 - April 7, 2015