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Roland "Pete" Peterson
Roland Peterson, age 90, of Carrington, ND, died Wednesday, September 7, 2016, at Golden Acres Manor, Carrington. Roland D. “Pete” Peterson was born May 2, 1926, in a hospital at Michigan, ND, the son of Bertina (Elvick) and Lawrence Peterson. For several years the family lived on a farm north of Ampersand. Roland spent all of his first 8 years of school in Mapes, ND. The family then moved to a 2-room home in town. There were many people sleeping in three beds and on the floor behind the coal heater. His brothers Roy and Orville worked on WPA and CCC to help the family eat. Their father had been badly injured in a runaway that summer, so all of the kids had to work on farms, shocking grain and hauling bundles for 25 cents an hour. They had to do this to buy school clothes. Roland and his brother Pat rode to school with 2 others boys whose family owned a car. Later the family moved to Lakota where they eventually lived in the Grant house, along with 3 other families. Roland finished his high school there. In 1944, he was badly injured in a car accident along with Bob Beatty and Dorothy (Nelson) Rosenberger. He was hospitalized for many days with a skull fracture and was actually “pronounced dead” with even an article of his death written up in the Devils Lake paper. Since he had volunteered for the Navy while still in high school, he left home for basic training in Farragut, ID. He was then sent to San Pedro, CA, where he was assigned to AM313 Minesweeper. He then was stricken with Scarlet Fever after which a mastoidectomy was performed on his right ear, and due to surgery all hearing was lost on his right side. In 1945, Roland was discharged from the Navy because of the ear problem and complications that developed from his skull fracture. He became a service connected disabled veteran from World War II. Seven boys from the Peterson family were in service at that time. Roland and his twin brothers Lowell and Lyle performed all over ND, as a singing trio called “The RePeters”. They went to Minnesota for a recording session, harmonizing some of their favorite tunes which included “Sentimental Journey” and “Cool Water.” After working at several jobs after his discharge he started college at Valley City State on the G.I. Bill where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1951. While going to college he met Mari Ann McDonald and they were married in 1952. Roland Mari Ann began their long time careers in education, first at the Svea Consolidated School where they were the entire high school faculty. They spent the next 5 years at Kathryn, ND, school where he was the superintendent, coach and teacher while Mari Ann did the rest. While in Kathryn, a daughter, Tammi Ro Ann was born. They moved to Wapato, Washington where he taught Senior English. While teaching in Wapato, Roland received a yearlong scholarship at Washington State University in Guidance and Counseling. He was then hired at Beaverton, Oregon where he spent 28 years in that school system. During their first year in Oregon, a daughter Kylie was born. The family lived in Tigard, OR, where both their daughters completed 12 years of school. Both girls went to college and earned advanced degrees. Together Roland and Mari Ann were influential in education for almost 70 years – a long time. They both retired in 1994, and moved from Tigard back to North Dakota, where they currently reside in Carrington. In 2010, at age of 85, Roland made a hole in one at the Crossroads Golf Course in Carrington, this was his second. In October of 2015, Roland took the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. and met his daughter Kylie and family there to enjoy the events. He is survived by his wife Mari Ann, Carrington; his daughters Tammi Ro Ann (Kevin) Mitchell, Happy Valley, OR, and Kylie (Don) Hensley, Fairfax, VA; granddaughters RoAnna Mitchell & Arianna Hensley; his brothers Lyle and Lowell Peterson, both of Valley City. Roland was preceded in death by his parents Lawrence and Bertina, his four brothers Roy, Orville, Pat, Wally; two sisters Irene and Madeline; and one grandson Kristopher Roland Mitchell.
Visitation: will be held Monday, 12PM-7PM, and will continue Tuesday from 9AM until time of service. Prayer Service: 7PM, at Evans Funeral Home, Carrington. Funeral Service: Tuesday, September 13, 2016, at 1:30PM at Evans Funeral Home. Burial: Lakota Cemetery, Lakota, ND.
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Name: David Panichello
Date: 01/14/2017
Message: Although not related, I enjoyed his outstanding positive outlook in life. Pete was easy to grin and smile; and he always had that "twinkle in his eye".
Although it has been many years, every time I hear of school kids getting into trouble, his memory will live on inside of me.
I am smiling as I write this message. Thanks Pete!
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Name: RoAnna Peterson Mitchell
Date: October 26, 2016
Message: Thinking of you tonight, Grampy. You left us with so many wonderful memories, and you'll always be in our hearts. We love you very much, forever.
Love, RoAnna-Belle
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Name: Tammi Peterson Mitchell
Date: October 13, 2016
Message: You left a legacy, Papa. This brings me comfort. Missing you tonight; hard to believe you've been gone now over a month. I know how important it was to you that you were remembered by people you connected with; there are so many I can't begin to list the names. You did real good, Papa. You did real good. And many people will always remember you...you will not be forgotten. Your first born child, Tammi for whom you will always be my Hero....
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Name: Gary & Jukie Kutz
Date: 9/20/2016
Message: We first met Pete (as we knew him) at assisted living. My husband had suffered a massive stroke and went to speech therapy there. Pete was always there with words of encouragement, a song and a smile. He gave my husband strength and the will to fight on to get better. We are so saddened by his passing. Our prayers are with you all. Rest in peace Pete.
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Name: Evan Wicks
Date: 9/15/2016
Message: I was very sad to hear of 'Pete's passing. 'Pete' and Mari Ann treated me better than I deserved and I'll never forget the kindness they showed me.
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Name: Dianne Larson
Date: September 13, 2016
Message: I am so sorry to hear about Roland's passing. I have many fond memories of He and Mari Ann in Kathryn as teachers and he as a coach. My husband Al also enjoyed both of them as teachers and then building on our friendship after you moved to Carrington. I have moved to Fargo and was not able to make it for the funeral as I have just had a knee replaced. My condolences to the Mari Ann and the family, may your memories
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Name: Claire & Jill Vigesaa
Date: 9-13
Message: Our sympathy to the family in the loss of your Dad, Pete. We certainly enjoyed getting to know Pete after he and MariAnn moved to Carrington. I have very special memories of the two long days we spent together in the Fargo hospital when he broke his hip. We had a very special bond after that, as those first hours post-surgery were pretty fragile. We sat quietly together and he would open his eyes and smile when he realized I was still there. When he got stronger we had some good visits and I was thankful for that opportunity to learn more about his life. He was just amazing and did not give up! May you find much to bring you comfort. Wish we could have attended the funeral but we now live in Montana.
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Name: Kam
Date: 9/12/16
Message: Our dear Uncle Pete Peterson.....oh how we loved growing up knowing you were in our family. Your spunk, your talent and your FUN was a great thing for us Clark kids.....you will be sorely missed by all of us. Later in my life, I enjoyed seeing Mari and Pete in Vancouver, WA, for many holidays and family events. You are all so dear to us.....and we are so sad for your loss but feeling joy that Uncle Pete lived his life to the fullest. He was a great example of how we should all do it--dealing with not the best of circumstances along the way sometimes but having joy and gratitude. Thank you, Uncle Pete, for being a special person in my and many others' lives. Kam Clark Garner
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Name: April Veit
Date: September 12, 2016
Message: After his retirement, Pete substituted for me and others at Five Oaks School in Beaverton. I will always have fond memories of him. Whenever I saw Pete, he had a twinkle in his eye and a great sense of humor! His positive attitude about life and living was infectious. He was devoted to his family and loyal to his friendships. My condolences to Pete's Family. May God Bless you and give you peace during this difficult time.
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Name: RoAnna Peterson Mitchell
Date: September 11, 2016
Message: Grampy's singing is one of my earliest little-kid memories (Mac the Knife, Always, and Sentimental Journey with the RePeters), and that's how I'll always remember him - singing and jitterbugging and making everyone around him smile. He had the most amazing life of anyone I know - two lives, in a way, since his obituary was published after that terrible car crash. I'm named after him - "Ro" for Roland, and "Anna" for my grandma, his wife of over six decades, Mari Ann. He made a huge difference in the lives of thousands of students, and also in all of ours, his family who love him so much. He will never be forgotten, by anyone whose life he touched. Every day, I'll try to live up to my name, and make sure I follow his example. Like all the songs he sang, It'll be a very hard act to follow.
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Name: Kevin R. Mitchell
Date: 09-11-2016
Message: It has been an honor and privilege to be your son-in-law.
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Name: Susan Schroeder
Date: 9/10/2016
Message: My deepest sympathies to your family. I was honored to meet Pete on his trip to D.C. for the Honor Flight. It was wonderful to see how much fun him and his family had. It is an honor to volunteer for the Honor Flight, because we are able to meet people like Pete. Thank you for your service, and may he Rest in Peace.
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Name: Tammi Peterson Mitchell
Date: Friday, September 9, 2016
Message: My Precious Papa was my 2nd oldest Best Friend for 59 years...he and I shared many joyful events throughout our lives with Mama and our family...sailing the Chesapeake, singing "Java Jive" as "Riff and Raff" at one of our best Peterson Family Reunions, throwing softballs (well, Dad threw...), laughing at goofy nicknames we had for our family...he always called me Tambourine and I always called him Riff or RiffyDoodle or Daddo. He lived his life to the fullest and I am so profoundly proud of him, his accomplishments, and to be his eldest of two daughters. We were all so blessed to have Papa in our lives...he will live on forever in our hearts. I love you, Daddo. Forever. Period no erasies. Your little girl, Tambourine
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Name: Erlys (Johnson) Paul
Date: 9/8/2016
Message: Both Roland and Mari Ann were my very good high school teachers, and I have fond memories of both of them. Hard to believe it's been 55+ years ago. My sympathy to Roland's family. God bless and comfort you.
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