Richard Boyd Peterson, aged 95, of Baldwin, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family, on Sunday, May 1, 2016. Richard was born April 2, 1921 in Anchor Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota to parents, Carl C. and Myrtle Peterson. At the age of four months he moved to the Hans Peterson family farm one mile west of Baldwin on County J, now known as Ken-Rich Farms, Inc.

Richard was baptized, confirmed and married by Rev. H. P. Norby in Baldwin, WI. He attended first grade at Oak Grove School and completed his elementary years at Lincoln School. He attended and graduated from Baldwin High School in 1939. On April 17, 1943 he married Evelyn M. Moe.

Richard lived a life of servant-leadership as witnessed by his years of community involvement in many capacities including, the Lincoln School Board of Education in the 1950’s; Baldwin Coop Creamery (President); Twin City Milk Producers (Board Secretary); Mid-America Dairy Producers (Treasurer); Land-of-Lakes, Inc; National Milk Producers Federation; Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives; St. Croix County Board (16 years and served as Chairman for 4.5 years); Gethsemane Lutheran Church (President for 2 terms); Appointed to the following St. Croix County Committees: Long Term Support, Board of Adjustments and the Dept. of Aging. Richard was a FFA Alumni Life Member. He sold Badger Farm Equipment for some years. In 2006 Richard and Evelyn were honored to serve as Grand Marshal’s of the Baldwin June Bug Days celebration.

Whatever Richard was involved in, he will be remembered as someone who loved socializing, getting to know who you were, who you belonged to, and what you did. He was genuine, and loved his community, living within the same two mile square his entire life. He proudly backed the Baldwin Senior Center and loved his morning coffees with at the ‘Table of Knowledge’. In his off time from the farm duties, committee, and board meetings Richard always found time with Evelyn to attend dances. There was nothing better than a good polka and waltz. His children will remember him for his Sunday drives to survey the land and see what was going on everywhere else. He also loved his time spent in his 5th wheel camper. Richard and Evelyn spent a few winter weeks a year, for a time, in Southern Texas and summers at Camp Brigadoon in Cumberland, WI. He read every daily and weekly newspaper available to keep up on government affairs and what was happening in the world near and far. His passing will see a great loss in historical knowledge and family lineage not only for his own family but possibly the tri-county area. He seemed to know everyone, where they lived, who had lived there before them, and possibly before them!

Richard is survived by his children, Barbara (LeRoy) Dull of Roberts, Dean (Linda) Peterson of New London WI, Steven (Jean) Peterson of Hammond, Kristine (Richard) Meunier of Galesville WI, Jerry (Ruth) Peterson of Spring Valley, Joyce (Steve) Kobilka of White Bear Lake MN, and Gary Peterson of Baldwin; 15 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; brother, Ken (Louise) Peterson of Baldwin, sister Marjorie VanSomeren of Baldwin; brother-in-law, William “Billy” (Eunice) Moe of Ocala FL; sister-in-law, Marion Moe of River Falls; Don (Jean) Chillstrom of Green Valley AZ and Leland Randall of Richfield MN; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn; granddaughter, Jaclyn Kobilka; and great-granddaughter, Kjersti Bremer; his parents; sisters, Betty Plourde and Priscilla Chapel; brothers-in-law Gerald Plourde, Frank Van Someren, and Willmer Moe; sisters-in-law Gladys Randall and Dorothy Chillstrom.

Funeral Services will be held 11:00am on Friday, May 6 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 1350 Florence St. in Baldwin, with Pastor David Wall officiating. Burial will take place at the Baldwin Cemetery. Visitation will take place from 4:00-8:00pm on Thursday, May 5, 2016 at O’Connell Family Funeral Home, 1010 Newton St. in Baldwin, and one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church. Memorials honoring the memory of Richard B. Peterson may be directed to an organization of the donor’s choice. Funeral services have been entrusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Baldwin WI. (715) 684-3434