(veteran)

Elmer Fred Petersen, 92

Former Washington County resident Elmer F. Petersen, 92, died Aug. 14, 2008, at Brookestone Meadows in Elkhorn.

Services were Monday, Aug. 18, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bennington. Interment was at Evergreen Memorial Park in Omaha.

Elmer Fred Petersen was born July 8, 1916, on a farm 2 miles south of Bennington (which then had the address of “Benson Station”) to Fred D. and Emma (Pruess) Petersen. The family then moved west of town which was then the Jipp farm. He started in the Bennington School System, walking to school from the farm. The family moved into town in 1924. He graduated from Bennington High School in 1934, one of seven graduates.

During the Great Depression, he worked for C.W. Glant and Sons as a carpenter, earning 20 cents an hour constructing window frames. At least he had a job for which he was grateful and learned a trade. On weekends and slack times, he worked for $1 a day.

He enjoyed playing baseball with his brothers on various town teams, and assisted the Bennington Legion with their Legion Ball Programs in the 1950s.

In February 1938, he married Frieda Kay.

During World War II, he was drafted into the United States Marine Corps and spent his time in the Pacific Theater. He went to Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands and finished his tour of duty on Okinawa. On his return home in the spring of 1946, he started his own business as a carpenter, building homes, farm and commercial building in Bennington and rural areas. In the late 1950s, he had the good fortune to be selected as the contractor to build homes and apartments in the Indian Hills area, located south of Dodge and east of 90th street in Omaha.

Mr. Petersen was a 60-year member of the Masonic Lodge in Blair.

Mr. and Mrs. Petersen lived in Bennington until 1970, when they built a home north of town on part of the Dressler farm where he spent his time doing small jobs, mowing lawns and gardening, also making things for their grandchildren. The couple later lived at Crowell Memorial Home in Blair.

He is survived by his son, Gary Petersen; daughter, Marge Eells Petersen; five grand-children; one great grandson; sisters-in-law; Lois Petersen, Dorothy Petersen and Helen Heldt.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Frieda, in May of 2007.

Reichmuth Funeral Home in Elkhorn was in charge of arrangements.

#2 Omaha World Herald 17 Aug 2005

(veteran)

PETERSEN – Elmer F., age 92, formerly of Bennington, NE, died 8/14/08. Preceeded in death by wife, Frieda. Survived by son Gary, of Omaha; daughter Marge Eells Petersen, of Omaha; grandchildren: Michelle (Bob) Brennan, Mike Eels, Doug, Matthew (Saiyaka) and David Petersen; great-grandson, Trintin Eells; Sisters-in-law, Lois Petersen, Evelyn Petersen, Dorothy Petersen and Helen Heldt.

FUNERAL SERVICE Monday, 10 am St. John’s Lutheran Church, Bennington. Interment Everygreen Cemetery. VISITATION Noon to 6 pm Sunday at the funeral home with family receiving friends 4-6 pm. Memorials to Masonic Eastern Star Home for Children or the Church.

HADEN-GOLDEN-REICHMUTH FUNERAL HOME Bennington, NE 238-2291

#3 funeral leaflet

Elmer Fred Peterson, one of four sons of Fred D. & Emma (Pruess) Petersen, was born July 8, 1016 on a farm two miles south of Bennington, which then had the address of "Benson Station". He then moved just west of town, onto what was then the Jipp farm. His folks moved into town in 1924. He graduated from Bennington High School in 1934, one of seven graduates.

Elmer then started working for C.W. Glant and Sons as a carpenter. It being the depression, he worked for 20 cents and hour in the shoo, making window frames. At least, he had a job, for which he was grateful and learned a trade. On weekends and slack times, Elmer worked for one dollar a day. He could tell you about hard times.

Elmer also enjoyed playing baseball with his brothers on various town teams, and assisted the Bennington Legion with their Legion Ball programs in the 1950's.

In February, 1938, Elmer married Freida Kay, daughter of William and Elsie (Harder) Kay. Frieda had a brother, William Kay Jr. and two sisters, Helen Heldt and Maxine Lauritsen. Frieda's home was on the Kay farm a half mile north of the Douglas County line in Washington County. She attended Wranch School, District 25, from which she graduated. It had 10 grades and was two miles from home.

Elmer was drafted into the Service as a Marine in World War II, and spent his time in the Pacific Theater. He went to Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands and finished his tour of duty on Okinawa.

On his return home in the spring of 1946, Elmer started My Own Business as a carpenter.

After the war he his own business as a carpenter, building homes, farm and commercial buildings in Bennington and rural areas. In the late 1950's he had the good fortune to be selected as the contractor to build homes and apartments in the Indian Hills area, located south of Dodge and east of 90th Street in Omaha.

Frieda and Elmer resided in Bennington until 1970, when they built a home just north of town on part of the Dressler farm, where he spent his time doing small jobs and mowing lawns and gardening, as well as making things for their five grandchildren. Elmer's son Gary has three boys and his daughter Marjorie has one son and a daughter. Frieda always loved her flowers and garden, and had plenty of room on their 2 acres. Frieda preceded Elmer in death on May 17, 2007.

Elmer passed away on August 14, 2008 at Brookestone Meadows in Elkhorn, Nebraska at the age of 92 years, 1 month and 6 days.

He was survived by his son Gary Petersen and daughter Marge Eells Petersen; 5 grandchildren: Michelle and husband Bob Brennan, Mike Eells, Doug Petersen, Matthew and wife Sayaka Petersen, and David Petersen; great=grandson Trintin Eells, and sisters-in-law: Lois Petersen, Evelyn Petersen, Dorothy Petersen, and Helen Heldt.

Courtesy of Reichmuth Funeral Homes.

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

FindaGrave #29091720