Neils J. Petersen was found dead in bed from heart failure last Friday morning, and the funeral was held at the Danish church at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon. He would have been 67 years of age on the 18th of this month. He came to this country from Denmark in 1873, and has lived in this country most of the time, part of the time on a farm out near Orum, but has been a resident of this city for about eighteen years. He leaves a wife and three children, John F. of Oakland and Andrew and Anna who live at home. Mr. Petersen was a devout member of the Danish Lutheran church, and often read the sermon in the absence of the pastor. He will be greatly missed in the home, in the church and by his many friends. In life he tried to follow in the footsteps of the Great Teacher and now that death has suddenly overtaken him he can be with his Master through all the coming years.

#2-14 May, 1908 - The Blair Democrat - Nels J. Peterson (sen)

FOUND DEAD IN BED

When Nels J. Peterson retired last Thursday evening feeling as well as usual the family had no idea that it was going to be his last night on earth, but sometime during the night death claimed him and from all appearance it was entirely without a struggle.

Mr. Peterson had not been feeling well for the past year or two, suffering with rheumatism, but for a day or two previous to his death he had been telling the family that he was feeling fine and the evening before death had called on a neighbor and seemed to be in good health and spirits. The following morning Mrs. Peterson arose and when breakfast was ready and Mr. Peterson had not put in his appearance, she wondered if he was sick or was sleeping late on account of a restless night.

The family heard no stir from his room and Mrs. Peterson went out to milk thinking that if her husband was sleeping she wouldn’t wake him. On returning she went to his room and found him dead. He was lying on his side in the bed and from all indications he must have went to sleep soon after retiring, as the bed clothes were only disturbed to the extent they would be in getting into bed.

Deceased was born in Denmark sixty seven years ago, and served four years in the war between Germany and Denmark. He came to America thirty five years ago, settling first in Omaha and later coming to this county. The family moved to Blair in 1808. He was married in 1869 and was the father of six children, three of whom besides the wife survive him - John of Oakland, Andrew and Anna.

Th funeral was held Sunday afternoon from the Danish church, and the remains laid to rest in the Blair cemetery.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #107751465 Note: His headstone has the spelling of his last name Petersen.