Lee Peterson, 90, of Holabird, passed away Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, at the Highmore Health in Highmore.
Funeral services were Wednesday, Oct. 4, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Highmore with burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery at Highmore. Visitation with a 7 p.m. wake service was on Tuesday, Oct. 3, also at the church.
Lee Marlin Peterson was born Jan. 27, 1927, in Woonsocket, to Lewis and Mary (Martin) Peterson. When Lee was three years old, his father died, so his mother brought him and his brother, Dale, to Canning to live with her family. Lee attended school there, graduating from Canning High School in 1944. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Air Force and trained as a top turret gunner. Upon his honorable discharge in 1946, Lee returned home to work for Carl Graff and Erv Korkow as a ranch hand.
Lee was united in marriage to Catherine “Kay” Dancey on April 6, 1953, at St. Mary’s Cathholic Church in Highmore. Their first year of married life was spent in DeGrey. In 1954, they moved to Holabird to the home where they lived until Lee’s passing. The couple raised eight children on their ranch: Dancey, Joe, Rock, John (Jack), Julie, Colin, Ross and Steve.
Along with ranching and farming, Lee and Kay owned and operated the Centennial Cafe and Lounge in Harrold. Lee was a school board member, a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Stockgrowers Association, and the American Legion.
He is survived by his wife, Catherine of Holabird; his daughter, Julie (Chad) Carroll of Rapid City; his sons, Joe Peterson of Deadwood, Rock Peterson of Pierre, Colin Peterson of Martin, Ross (Chrissy) Peterson of Sturgis, and Steve (Lori) Peterson of Holabird; 15 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his sons, Dancey and John Peterson; two brothers; and by his parents.