Richard Harold Petersen [63690]

  General Notes:

Richard Harold Petersen Sr.
Funeral Service: 10:30 A.M. Monday, June 19, 2006 at the United Methodist Church in DeWitt, NE.

Richard Harold Petersen Sr., 92 years of age, of Lincoln, NE., formerly of DeWitt, NE. passed away at his home at The Legacy in Lincoln, NE. Wednesday night, June 14, 2006. He was born on September 4, 1913 at Axtell, NE. to William and Ane (Pedersen) Petersen who had migrated to this country from Denmark. Richard was the youngest of 5 children born to this family. During his early years the family lived in Axtell and Crawford Nebraska and Redfield, Arkansas before settling in DeWitt, NE. in 1918. His father was the village blacksmith and the inventor of the VISE-GRIP tool. He was a 1931 graduate of the DeWitt High School in DeWitt, NE. and then attended Peru State College in Peru, NE. In 1935 he moved to California and worked in a machine shop but returned to DeWitt to join family members in the production of hand tools and to assist in the growth of Petersen Manufacturing Company. On august 16, 1939 he and Virginia Venrick were married. They became the parents of three children; Allen, Richard Jr. and Ane. AS things progressed and as the business grew he became Vice-President in charge of sales which required him to travel to every state in the union. Because of his travels he was never able to serve or participate in local interests except for service with the volunteer Fire Department and Civic Club, both in DeWitt, NE. Other memberships included the Civil Air Patrol, American Legion in DeWitt, Beatrice Country Club and the Nebraska Club in Lincoln, NE. He had been a member of The Methodist Church and had attended the St. Augustine's Episcopal Church in DeWitt, NE.

Richard loved to fly. He acquired enough hours to earn commercial and instructor ratings, so early in World War II he entered the service of his country as a flight instructor to Naval aviation cadets. During this time, he and his family lived in Crete, NE. and Yankton, SD. returning to DeWitt in 1944 after his tour of duty was complete. Richard and Virginia lived in DeWitt until they moved to Lincoln in 1996.

Survivors include 2 sons, Allen Petersen of Barrington Hills, Illinois, and Richard H. Petersen Jr. and his wife Sandra of Rockwall, TX.; daughter Ane Shields and husband Dr. Robert of Missoula, Montana; grandchildren Sami Yarbrough and husband Trey, Dana Byars and husband Morgan Scott, Lynn Cain and husband Brandon, and R.J. Patterson and wife Mariah, and Jessie Patterson; 7 great grandchildren; and sister Harriet Fort of DeWitt, NE. He was preceded in death by his parents William and Ane (Pedersen) Petersen; wife Virginia R. (Venrick) Petersen (2000); an infant sister; brothers Christian and Ralph Petersen; 3 granddaughters and 1 grandson.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Monday, June 19, 2006 at the United Methodist Church in DeWitt, NE. with Reverend Mary-Ellen Gaither officiating. Interment will be at the Oak Grove Cemetery in DeWitt, NE. The body will lie in state Sunday from 12:00 - 9:00 at the Venrick-Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in DeWitt, NE. and at the church one hour preceding the service on Monday. A memorial has been established with the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice, NE. in charge. Messages of condolence may be sent to rich@griffithshovendick.com. They will be forwarded to the family.

The Venrick-Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in DeWitt is in charge of the service.

Richard married Virginia Ruth Venrick [63699] [MRIN: 23457], daughter of Ralph W. Venrick [63721] and Edna NN [63722], on 16 Aug 1939 in De Witt, Saline County, Nebraska, United States. (Virginia Ruth Venrick [63699] was born on 26 Oct 1919 in De Witt, Saline County, Nebraska, United States, died on 21 Jun 2000 and was buried in Jun 2000 in Oak Grove Cemetery, De Witt, Saline County, Nebraska, United States.)