Howard Peterson

Howard Duane Peterson passed away peacefully on Friday, December 19, 2025, at Good Samaritan Society in Pine River, Minnesota, he was 94. Howard was born on June 18, 1931, to Nellie (née Hamlet) and Marvin Peterson in Brainerd, Minnesota. 

The youngest of four children, Howard grew up in the rural Pine River community of Swanburg. In his childhood years he enjoyed sucker spearing, farm life and getting up to mischief with the other “babies” of the extended Peterson clan, to include Eldon and Burton.

Howard attended Swanburg Country School until 8th grade, then went into town for high school. He played both football and basketball and graduated from Pine River High School in 1949. He went on to attend St. Cloud State University. Interrupting his undergrad was a stint in the U.S. Army, serving stateside during the Korean Conflict. After honorable discharge, he continued his education. He won a scholarship through the National Science Foundation to the University of South Dakota and took classes at the University of Minnesota with it all culminating in both Bachelor and Master’s of Education degrees.

In 1958, Howard met Eva “Evie” Taylor on a blind date. He quickly wed her. He bragged throughout his life about how he had won over an older woman, his bride being a whole 35 days older than he was. In 1959, they welcomed their son Scott, a couple years later their daughter Avalon “Loni,” and a few years after that their daughter Kim.

Howard taught 11th grade biology for 15 years at Orono High School and coached the wrestling team for 13 of those years. In 1971, missing “Up North” Howard applied for and was granted a leave of absence. During that year he moved his family to Whitefish Lake and sold real estate. They never went back to Orono, and he never went back to teaching. Howard worked in real estate in the lakes area until his retirement.

A few years after moving back to his beloved Pine River, Howard bought the family farm and moved away from the lake. There the family enjoyed horseback riding, tractor rides and the joy of space.

Howard was civically minded. He served two terms as Crow Wing County Commissioner and on various boards and committees, including the Pine River school board, Trinity and Faith Lutheran Church councils, and the Crow Wing Power board. He also enjoyed score-keeping for high school wrestling matches, a nod to his former coaching days.

Throughout his life, Howard enjoyed driving, always taking different routes to explore, and indulging in Sunday drives. Expanding on this tradition, in retirement Howard and Evie spent winter months driving to and around warmer climates. After Evie’s passing in 2014, Howard and his son, Scott, made a trip to Alaska which allowed Howard to say that he had been to all 50 states!

Howard will be remembered for his humor, wit, story-telling, appreciation of music and the written word, and for his deep love of family. He was a beloved and fun-loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, great-grandfather, brother, son, cousin and friend.

Howard was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Eva; his son, Scott; his siblings, Don (Velma) Peterson, Mavis (Eldon) Hegstrom, Jean (Don) Kleen; and his siblings-in-law, Bob (Eleanore) Taylor, Alice Katheryn (Gilbert) Shaw, Ralph (Carole) Taylor, and Don Taylor.

He is survived by his daughters, Loni Porta and Kim Terhaar; his grandchildren, Brittany (Phillip) Werner, Tyler (Kristine) Johnson, Tanner (Stephanie) Johnson, Dallas Peterson, Molly (Mike) Landowski, and Megan (Brody) Geisler; his great-grandchildren, Reid (who made him great), Will, Eva, Everly, Daisy, Gabriel, Dominic, Hayden, Luke, and Elias; brothers-in-law, Denny (Vonnie) Taylor and Jerry (Phyllis) Taylor; sister-in-law, Beverly Taylor; and many nieces, nephews and extended family.

A funeral service will be held at First Lutheran Church in Pine River on January 9, 2026, at 11 a.m. with a visitation at 10 a.m. and luncheon after the service.