"Trixie" was born on January 14, 1935 in Benson. He was the son of Bernice and Charles Peterson. He was baptized on the second Sunday of June in 1935 by the Rev. Waite at Pilgrim Congregational Church. He attended school at Southside Elementary and later graduated from Benson High School in 1954. He was confirmed at St. Mark's Lutheran Church on January 23, 1955. He spent his childhood with his Grandma, Elizabeth Ferguson. At the age of 15, he began working for Barduson Electric and worked there for 15 years. Then he worked at the hardware store (otherwise known as Zosel's), and was also a custodian at the First State Bank and St. Mark's Lutheran Church for many years. He later worked for Redball and Custom Rotomold. On June 5, 1955, Trixie married Lydia Gades, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fairfield. This union was blessed with four children, Timothy, Michele, Lisa, and Heidi, and 57 years of marriage. Following his heart attack in 2005 he retired. He loved to work and always got the job done. For 2 years he delivered prescriptions for Breen's Pharmacy. Soon he had to have a leg amputated which limited his love to work even more. Trixie enjoyed spending time with his family and going on family trips. He also loved airplane rides and playing and working with model airplanes. He was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church and the Benson Fire Department. He was also a member of the Benson Jaycees & pulled the CountrySide Days float for many years. Trixie is survived by his wife, Lydia, of Benson; a son, Tim (Deb) Peterson of Litchfield; three daughters, Michele Peterson (Don Pechan) of Browerville, Lisa (Eric) Peterson of Chaska, and Heidi (Jim) Johnson of Eden Prairie; 9 grandchildren, Nicole Wear, Jamie Hoiland-Kelly (Tim Boorse), Sarah (Mike) Scornavacca, Laura (Jared) Nelson, Lindsey Engelland, Joe Cottrell, Amy Peterson, Kelsey Peterson, and Cheyenne Johnson; 6 great-grandchildren, Faith Cottrell, Kiley Kelly, Grace Wear, Adeline Nelson, Siri Scornavacca, and Gus Nelson; 2 nieces, Barbara Knutson and Karen (Carl) Cook; and a nephew, Richard (Dianne) Knutson. He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Elizabeth Ferguson; mother, Bernice Ferguson-Valla; a sister, Peggy Knutson; and his brother-in-law, Kenny Knutson.
