Jerome "Jerry" Dale Peterson

Jerome Dale Peterson, age 88 of Alexandria, MN passed away on Sunday, October 23, 2022. 

Jerry was born April 7, 1934, and grew up in the Minneapolis area, the youngest of 7 children born to Arthur and Verna Peterson. He attended Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, graduating in 1952. In 1953, he enlisted in the Air Force. He was stationed in Korea and is a veteran of the Korean War. After leaving the service, Jerry held a variety of jobs in Minnesota, the Dakotas, and Wyoming, before moving to Alexandria in 1963. While working at Alexandria Boat Works, one of his colleagues suggested Jerry meet his daughter, Bette. They were married December 1964 and remained together until Bette died in November 2006. During that time, Jerry managed a Standard Service Station in Alexandria and then later drove truck for Dahlen Transport. He was badly injured in a truck accident while on the job in the summer of 1984. Following months of recovery from his injuries, he opened a landscaping service, The YardWorks. He eventually sold his business & equipment and began to drive tour bus for Utopia Tours. His final place of employment was the Alexandria School District where he drove the school bus that transported many special needs kids in the area. 

After Bette’s death, Jerry met Marilyn Svoboda. They were married July 7, 2007. Together, they found a fellowship home at New Life Christian Church in Alexandria. They enjoyed trips to visit family in Arizona, California, Illinois and throughout Minnesota. On summer evenings, you might have found them at a concert on the lawn. Jerry was very proud of his service in the Air Force. In the Fall of 2018, he was selected to be a part of an Honor Flight with other veterans, who were taken from Fargo to Washington, DC to visit the many military memorials there. It was an important and meaningful trip for him. In addition to that special honor, he was also very happy to serve on the committee to build Veterans Memorial Park in Alexandria, which opened in 2020. 

Even in his last days, Jerry maintained his goofy sense of humor, his love of God, family and country, and his taste for coffee and sweet treats. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, brother, and friend.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; his children, Leigh (Mike) Dobson, Lynn (Miguel) Palacios, and Eric (Jo) Peterson; his grandchildren, Mitch (Erin) Melzer, Jesse (Hillary) Everett, Kasi (Dallas) Moorhead, Tanner Dobson, Trey Palacios, Bobbi Jo (Joey) Crouse, Darian Palacios, and Jade Everett; his greatgrandchildren, Lincoln, Ryder, Issie, June, Declan, and Kellen; and lots of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Lisa (Todd) Melzer.

A Visitation will take place on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, at New Life Christian Church in Alexandria from 4-7 PM and continue one prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at 11 AM at New Life Christian Church in Alexandria with Military Honors to follow.

A Private Family inurnment will take place at the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Carlos, MN.