Obituary of Vernon Peterson

Vernon H. Peterson was born June 27, 1920 in Greeley County, KS to Edward Elias & Ellen Josephine (Glad) Peterson and passed from this life in Tulsa, OK on November 19, 2012 at the age of 92. Pete was a man of many interests. An electrical engineer who earned his living as a Manufacturer's rep and later, as a salesman for local electrical supply companies, but his main interest was his family. His guidance and strength and support and encouragement were the mainstay of his family. He enjoyed the outdoors with trips down the Illinois River, boating on Oklahoma lakes, camping with the Boy Scouts, and regular rounds of golf. He and Evelyn sang in the First Lutheran Choir. They traveled extensively by car from Nova Scotia to San Diego and from Miami to Spokane. They did the same in Europe and Scandinavia, Sightseeing by car in Germany, Denmark, Holland, Norway and Sweden. Tom Brokaw might have used our dad as the pattern for his book. Dad served as a combat infantryman in the Battle of Leyte with the 7th Division and went ashore in the third wave in the last great battle, Okinawa, carrying a backpack radio and a rifle. He served in the army of occupation in Korea, went home as a Staff Sgt. with a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, married his college sweetheart and went back to work. He raised his family and didn't talk about the war. He was a strong force for good in the lives of his wife, Evelyn, and his children and grandchildren and great grandchildren. He will be greatly missed. Vernon is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Evelyn Viola (Nielsen) Peterson; his sisters, Gladys Rhode and Bernice Morse; and his brother, Elliott Peterson. Vernon is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Tia & Allen Stout; his sons and daughter-in-law, Chris & Debbie Peterson and John Eric Peterson; 4 grandchildren; and 7 great grandchildren. Vernon will lie in state Tuesday from 10:00 - 8:00 p.m. with family receiving friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Ninde Brookside Funeral Home. A funeral will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Memorial Park Cemetery Chapel where he will be laid to rest. Ninde Brookside Chapel ninde.com 918-742-5556