MAPLETON – Walter D. “Pete” Peterson, 74, passed away Sunday morning, Oct. 2, 2005, at Wayne Memorial Hospital in Goldsboro, N.C. He was born July 11, 1931, in Akeley, Minn., the son of Carl and Lilabelle Peterson and was educated in Akeley as well. He was a dedicated serviceman in the U.S. Air Force for more than 20 years, with three tours of duty to Vietnam during the war. He served on Thule, Greenland, Presque Isle Air Force Base, Dow Air Force Base in Bangor, Kadena Air Force Base on Okinawa, Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, and Reese Air Force Base in Texas. Upon retirement, he remained a loyal veteran by staying in touch with Air Force friends, attending squadron reunions, enjoying as many air shows as he could to see the Thunderbirds. He was the director of the Outreach Program for the University of Maine at Presque Isle and assisted active duty and veterans with enrollment of college courses. He also was an active member of the Air Force Sergeants Association. He was a loving, caring father and grandfather. Everything he did revolved around his family and friends. He was an avid sportsman, including fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, and golfing. He took pride in his gardening and shared the bounty that was harvested each year. He is survived by his daughter, Kathy and her husband, Bill, of Lewiston; his son, Kevin, of Goldsboro, N.C., and his son, Karl, of Mount Olive, N.C.; his granddaughter, Amanda and her fianc?, Corey, of Auburn; his grandson, Matthew of Auburn, his sister, Ruth Sustad, of Thief River Falls, Minn.; his brother, George, of Brooklyn Heights, Minn.; and his sister, Janice Adams, of Weeks Mills, Kathy Bradshaw, a very close friend to Kevin and Pete, from Clinton, N.C., Ralph and Mary Jo Wiggins, of Grantham, N.C. and many dear family and friends. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Pauline, of Mapleton; his parents, Carl and Lilabelle of Akeley, Minn.; three brothers, Lewis, Linus and Harry “Bud” Peterson. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at Duncan-Graves Funeral Home. Interment will be at Southside Cemetery, Mapleton. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to help defray funeral expenses in memory of Walter D. “Pete” Peterson, in care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, 30 Church St., Presque Isle, ME 04240.
WALTER D. ‘PETE’ PETERSON
