Virgil L. Petersen

Virgil L. Petersen, 97, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at his home.
Virgil Leonard Petersen was born on June 28, 1918, in Darlington Township near Clark, South Dakota, the son of Walter H. and Teckla (Hallberg) Petersen. Virgil attended elementary school in Darlington at District #22. He accepted Christ as his Savior in 1931, at Lake Geneva Bible Camp in Alexandria, Minnesota. In 1939, he graduated from North Central Bible Institute. His parents had moved to a farm near Motley in 1937 and after graduating from bible school, Virgil continued to assist on the farm.
On March 14, 1941, he entered the U.S. Army and served during World War II. He was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Arcadia and Camp Roberts, California, and also Fort Lewis, Washington. On July 2, 1944, he was sent to England and served in the European Theater, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe, part of the time serving under General Patton. Virgil was so proud of having fought at the Battle of the Bulge, and all of his time in the Army. Virgil could recite, for anyone who would listen, how he came home from church to find out on his portable radio that Pearl Harbor had been bombed. He told of having to paint the headlights on Army jeeps so the enemy couldn't see them, and how he was finally able to attend church on Christmas Day in 1944 in Germany while bombs were flying over their heads. General Patton gave him a little red Christmas card. He was state-side, in a train filled with soldiers when the news that the war was over. He said the shouting and cheering was deafening. He received the Bronze Star for meritorious service. He was a charter member of the 14th Observation Battalion, organized in June of 1942. He was discharged on September 30, 1945, and returned to farm with his father, near Leader and Motley. Virgil enjoyed attending several army buddy reunions.

On August 16, 1957, he married Ethel Demmer at the Gospel Tabernacle of Fergus Falls. They purchased the family farm and were very active in their church and community. He retired and sold their farm in 1999 and moved to Fergus Falls.

He was an active member of the Abundant Life Assembly of God Church, where he served as a leader of the Adult Sunday School class and also as a board member. He was a member of the Motley American Legion, Post #0124 and also a member of the Pillager Assembly of God Casino Church, where he served as youth leader for thirty years and Teen Sunday School teacher for thirty five years.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting and traveling. He took trips to Canada, Mexico and bus tours and car trips to forty-eight states. Virgil and Ethel also traveled to Hawaii and Alaska, on the Inside Passage Ship, the Bahamas and Key West, Florida. Their travels also took them to Tanzania and Kenya, Africa; and Europe.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Walter and Teckla Petersen; his wife, Ethel in 2002; two brothers, S.H. Harland Petersen and Marlin Walter Petersen; and also two infant brothers.

He is survived by sisters-in-law, Elaine Petersen of Springfield, Missouri and Doris Petersen of Winter Park, Florida, numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Abundant Life building payment fund.

A shared visitation and service will be held with Virgil’s brother-in-law, Orville Demmer.

Visitation: 5:00-7:00 PM on Friday, July 31, at the Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls
Service: 1:00 PM on Saturday, August 1, 2015 at Abundant Life Assembly of God Church in Fergus Falls
Clergy: Reverend Duane Smith
Interment: Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls
Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls