Orvin L. Peterson, age 89 of Hammond and River Falls, died on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at Regions Hospital in St. Paul MN. Orvin was born on September 30, 1926 in River Falls WI to parents Carl and Alice (Owens) Peterson. He was baptized and confirmed at the Ezekial Lutheran Church in River Falls. Orvin attended school in River Falls, and graduated with the Class of 1945.

Orv loved the land, and farmed all of his life on his family’s Century Farm. He worked hard, lived simply. Orvin was a man devoted in his faith, who always showed kindness to those around him. Orv was an avid reader, a nature lover, and a local historian. Orv was a loyal regular at Walker’s A&W, and an annual attendee of the Pleasant Valley Town Picnic. Though he was often quiet, Orv truly cherished his connections with people, and was a wealth of knowledge in knowing multiple generations of many local families. His kindness will be missed by many.

Orvin is survived by cousins, Alan (Jeanne) Owens of Hammond, Frederic (Christa) Owens of West Des Moines IA, Herb (Lori) Afdahl of Arizona, Donald Norderhaug of Madison, Michael Norderhaug of Minneapolis, and Gary (Julie) Peterson and family of Roberts; dear friends and neighbors, Mark (Carol) Lebo and family, Al (Denise) Kraft and family, and Sharon Austrum and family; as well as his many friends from the American Heritage Care Center. Orvin was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Alice; and cousins, David Afdahl, Ardyce Peterson, Orville Owens, Jean Tubman, Marvin Anderson, Harvey Anderson, and Marian Austrum.

Memorial Services for Orvin Peterson will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at the Rush River Lutheran Church, N8623 County Road Y in rural River Falls. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church. Memorials honoring Orvin may be directed to the Rush River Lutheran Church. Services have been entrusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Home and Countryside Crematory of Baldwin WI. 715-684-3434