Gerald "Jerry" Peterson

Gerald John Peterson was born on November 9th, 1929 to Victor and Amy (Udin) Peterson. He was the youngest of 6 boys and 1 girl. He grew up on the NE side of Minneapolis in a 3 bedroom home which often hosted relatives, his grandfather, and others in need. “Jerry” attended Edison Senior High, Minnehaha Academy, Augsburg College, and the University of Minnesota where he earned a degree in social work. He played football at Augsburg and met Martha (Bozony) at a student mixer scavenger hunt (they had to find a cat and bring it back and most people did). He went on to attend North Park Theological Seminary and was ordained into the ministry by the Evangelical Covenant Church. “Jerry” married Martha Bozony on August 19th,1955. In 1965 they purchased a home in White Bear Lake which over the years he rebuilt, added a garage and finished the basement, mostly on his own. This would be their home for 51 years. Together they raised daughters Sarah and Janene with unconditional love, in a Christ centered home. They welcomed son-in-laws Eric and Bill into the family and celebrated grandchildren, and great grandchildren, with pride and joy, always covering them in prayer and offering help, advice, and support.

His work history is full and includes newspaper delivery in NE Mpls, digging graves at Hillside Cemetery, grocery store stock boy, soda jerk, replacing rails on the railroad, hospital orderly at St Barnabas, driving truck for Hires Root Beer, being a boy’s life supervisor, counselor and house parent (with Martha) at various boy’s and children’s homes in Illinois. He served as senior pastor at both Stockholm Covenant and LaBolt Covenant Churches in South Dakota and later at Anoka Covenant in Minnesota. Following the ministry he worked for Dymo industries as a junior chemist, and progressed in his role at 3M from Inventory Control Coordinator, Education and Training trainer, Senior professional in Human Resources, and finally Certified Employee Assistance Professional retiring in 1992.

His life was one of service from a young age. He was a Boy Scout leader and was frequently involved in many roles volunteering, leading, and teaching at Salem Covenant Church and First Covenant Church, St. Paul, including welcoming, settling, and serving the Hmong refugees. These families remained near and dear to his heart. He was involved in Quanset Housing in NE Mpls. and the White Bear Y’s Men ministries. Jerry never hesitated to care for, encourage, counsel, and meet the physical and spiritual needs of many individuals whom he met along the way. He believed in supporting missionaries, the persecuted church, and helping to provide through sponsoring children in need. He spent time finding items...furniture, tools, appliances, clothing...at a bargain for those who needed them (and getting extras for those he may run into in the days to come). He had countless garage sales, where he displayed those extras that hadn’t found a home, often pricing somewhat high because of the value he saw in them. The sales didn’t matter, the visit with the customers did.

Jerry prayed for family, friends, missionaries, and leaders daily. He enjoyed fixing cars and various machinery, tinkering with appliances, not giving up. He loved fishing, playing softball, golfing, following his grandchildren’s interests and events, and hosting family gatherings. He enjoyed following Minnesota Gopher sports. He loved to read and learn and continued attending Bible studies up to his last month of life. He took time to get to know everyone he met. If he learned of an interest or a need that you had he often had a book for you as well.

Despite decades of chronic pain and declining mobility, hearing, and health, his focus was on people, the next gathering or group, his faith in God, and helping others. Struggles in this life didn’t deter him. He remained hopeful to the end, even making plans for the next family event as he left the hospital.

If he met you, he remembered you, if he learned your name, your job, your kids, your history, he remembered it and likely prayed for you. Details mattered. In people, in work, in play, in faith, in life. We are so grateful for the life he lived and the legacy he left.