<p>A life well lived came to a peaceful close. Sherwood Eugene "Pete" Peterson, Sr., 84, of rural Baker, MN, passed away in an afternoon nap on Friday, May 23, 2025, at Eventide Nursing Home, Moorhead, MN. A family man, a proud farmer, and a larger than life personality.</p>
<p>Pete was born on October 17, 1940, to Eugene and Hope (Young) Peterson, at St. John's Hospital in Fargo, ND. He grew up on the family farm, Valley Polled Hereford Farms, outside of Baker, MN. Here he farmed with his father - raising cattle, Quarter Horses, producing certified seed grains and seed potatoes. His first job on the farm was spreading manure and weeding the potatoes with two horses. He attended District 115 country school and graduated from Moorhead High School, Class of 1957. He enlisted in the North Dakota Air National Guard from 1959 - 1965, while attending North Dakota Agricultural College where he graduated with a B.S. Degree in Animal Husbandry. He was united in marriage to Marilynn Alme on August 18, 1962, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead, MN.</p>
<p>In 1962, Pete and Marilynn moved to their newly created farmstead where they raised their three boys. A Century farm, the Peterson Seed Farm was a foundation, registered and certified seed grower of barley, spring wheat, soybeans and potatoes. In 1971 - Pete, along with a few other area potato growers together purchased Mainline Potato Company, Downer, MN from his father. Pete retired from farming prior to spring planting in 2002.</p>
<p>Pete was very active in the community and belonged to many local organizations, as a kid he was in 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA). During College, Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) Fraternity, Saddle & Sirloin Club, Rahjah Club, Blue Key Member. As an adult, Glyndon Lions Club, Elmwood Cemetery Board, Glyndon Boy Scouts, Big Cormorant Lake Association, and the Clay County Historical Society Board.</p>
<p>As a farmer, Pete continued to play a very active role in the community and as the years went by, his list of achievements was abundant. Those achievements included the 1976 MN Outstanding Young Farmer Award, the 1978 King Agassiz Award from the Red River Winter Show in Crookston, MN, the 1991 Minnesota Crop Improvement Association (MCIA) Premier Seedsman Award, and the 2011 Achievement in Crop Improvement Award (MCIA).</p>
<p>Pete also belonged to many farming organizations and boards and was influential in the national, state, and local farming culture. Those organizations included being a part of the National Potato Promotion Board, Area One Potato Research and Promotion Council, Red River Valley Potato Growers Association, MN Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) Advisory Committee , MN Soybean Association, MN Association of Wheat Growers and the MN Barley Research and Promotion Council Minnesota Crop Improvement Association, Clay County Crop Improvement Association, Advisory Board for the University</p>
<p>of MN, Crookston, MN, Northern Crops Institute council member, Northwest Farm Manager Group, Agassiz Club, Advisory Board for the Buffalo - Red River Watershed District.</p>
<p>He belonged to many local church groups, including the Baker/Downer Presbyterian Church, Glyndon Lutheran Church, and Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead.</p>
<p>Pete and Marilynn enjoyed traveling and made it to all 50 States in their time together, the first trip was a honeymoon drive to the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. Pete loved watching Westerns and driving around looking at crops. He enjoyed attending all his children's events and playing an active role in their lives by attending their sporting events, Scouts, and piano recitals. He was a proud Dad of three Eagle Boy Scouts. He loved spending time with his family and friends at their lake cabin on Big Cormorant.</p>
<p>If you knew or met Pete over the years, you certainly did not forget him. He had countless stories to share and enjoyed making sure he said hello to everyone he knew or didn't know. If you were a guest at the lake cabin, he would not let you leave without a good game of "Trouble". He always enjoyed a friendly card or dice game at the Midway in Downer and Baker Elevator. Was proud to be crowned Mr. Potato Head during the annual Barnesville Potato Days in 2001. And he truly enjoyed emceeing the annual Demolition Derby at the Clay County Fair in the 70's and 80's..."Sorry car 54 - you gotta break your stick!". He did in fact blow the radio speakers out in his John Deere tractor listening to John Anderson's "Swingin'". He truly enjoyed living his entire life and raising his family in this area of Baker, Downer, Sabin, Glyndon and Moorhead - he didn't want to live anywhere else. Blessed.</p>
<p>He loved the fictional character - Tigger. He personified the same characteristics - enthusiasm, optimism, friendly, charismatic and outgoing. From "The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers" song --- "...their bouncy, trouncy, ouncy, pouncy - fun, fun, fun, fun, fun. But the most wonderful thing about Tiggers - is I'm the only one." Pete, certainly was this.</p>
<p>He was a tireless promoter of the crop products he produced and encouraged the production of high-quality certified seed. Remember the letters he dug in his fields each Fall for the airplanes overhead to see on approach to Fargo, ND - "Eat Spuds", "Eat More Potatoes", "Use Soy Oil, Hardee's Does". He was a steward of the land and caretaker of the animals on the farm. He never shied away from hosting farm group visits from all over the world. He worked closely with both the NDSU and U of Minnesota plant breeders - taking the risk on brand new varieties before general public release.</p>
<p>Asked how he hoped to be remembered? "Wonderfully", he would say.</p>
<p>Sherwood "Pete" and his family would like to thank all the staff & co-residents at Eventide Nursing Home Heritage wing during his stay. Chaplin Streed had become a very good friend of Sherwood - he certainly treasured the connection they created with each other. Pete thanks all of the farmers, neighbors, friends and strangers that he ever got the chance to talk and share a story with...he thrived on activity and people. He missed those that he knew - that had passed on before him...he is now with them - telling a story & catching up.</p>
<p>Pete is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Marilynn; children, Sherwood (Wendy) Peterson, Jr., Rochester, MN, Charles (Melissa) Peterson, Moorhead, MN, and John Peterson, Moorhead, MN; grandchildren, Andrew (Darby) Peterson, Farmington, MN, and Hannah Peterson, Rochester, MN; great-grandchild, Dempsey Peterson; and many other loving relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Eugene and Hope; and his siblings, Shirley Krzyzaniak Engebretson, Betty Walstad, and LaRue Kocourek, and infant brother James Arthur.</p>
<p>Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M., followed by the prayer service at 6:00 P.M., Friday, June 6, 2025, at Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN. Visitation will continue from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M., followed by the Celebration of Life at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, MN. A livestream of the service will be available here on Pete's webpage. Burial will take place at Elmwood Cemetery, Sabin, MN, following the services in Moorhead.</p>
<p>Memories and condolences may be shared at <a href="http://www.inlyf.com">www.inlyf.com</a>.</p>