Obituary - Robert A. Peterson

The Rev. Robert A. Peterson

Robert Arthur Peterson died Sept. 7, 2012, in the loving care of the Good Samaritan Society.

The son of Arthur Ferris and Clara Peterson, Robert was born June 12, 1926, in Minneapolis. Growing up, Robert spent the better part of his youth playing sandlot ball and developing the athletic skills and interests that would color the rest of his life. In high school he was the captain of the baseball team and in college, the captain of the hockey team.

After graduating from Thomas Edison High School in 1944, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving on LST 133 as a boiler tender until 1946.

He attended Gustavus Adolphus College, earning a degree in business administration and economics in 1951. Robert was called back into the Navy during the time of the Korean Conflict. Returning home in 1952, he was employed by Montana Dakota Utilities Co. as an interval traveling auditor, where he continued to play ball.

Robert later enrolled at Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary and was ordained as a Lutheran minister in May 1959. His first call was to Fox Point Ev. Lutheran Church in Wisconsin, as a youth pastor. He next served St. Matthew Ev. Lutheran Church in Wauwatosa, Wis., as an associate pastor with an emphasis on youth ministry.

On a sub-zero January afternoon in Minneapolis, 1965, Robert married Gloria Jean Hendricks. Robert continued his education by completing a master's degree in philosophy at Marquette University in 1970. In the meantime he became a director for M.A.U.D. Ltd., a project that assisted inner-city groups by supervising and training VISTA volunteers. During this time he volunteered as a "tent minister" for Epiphany Lutheran Church in the inner city of Milwaukee. Eight years later he was called as the senior pastor to Epiphany, serving for 13 years. He also served on the Wisconsin Upper Michigan Synod Board. Throughout his ministry Robert fought for civil rights and peace. Among his proudest moments were marching with Fr. James Groppi, and collaborating with Daniel Berrigan, SJ, during the Vietnam War protests.

Moving to Moscow in 1990, Robert worked as an intern pastor for congregations, in Endicott, Wash., and for Idaho congregations in Orofino, Gifford, Kamiah, Nezperce and Pierce. He was also a member of the University of Idaho Campus Christian Board.

He was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife, Gloria Jean; two sons, Erik and Nels, of Moscow; and his sister, Marion Johnson of Minneapolis.

Robert's funeral will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Moscow. A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Short's Funeral Chapel in Moscow. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to Emmanuel Lutheran Church, The War Resister's League or Heifer International.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Short's Funeral Chapel in Moscow, and online condolences may be sent to www.shortsfuneralchapel.com.

Lewiston Tribune, September 11, 2012, p. 5C
Transcribed by Jill Leonard Nock