Donald L. Peterson

Donald (Don) Lewis Peterson, age 86, of Nelson, Minnesota died on February 12, 2025, at his home.

Don was born to Selmer and Ida Peterson on August 23, 1938, in Harvey, North Dakota. 

Don’s family moved to Fargo, North Dakota when he was young. Don graduated from Fargo North High School. Don was in the Air Force Reserves and was deployed to Alaska for 6 months as a mechanic. Returning to the Fargo area, he met the love of his life, LaVonne Olson in 1960. In 1962 they were married and began their life in St. Paul, Minnesota. Don began to work as an auto body repair man at Champion Body Shop. They later moved to North St. Paul and opened Don’s Body Shop.

They moved to Osakis in 1972 and lived by the lake for some time while their house was being built in Nelson.

Don was a humble man. He loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing, and playing jokes on people. Don would walk uptown to get mail every day. He also chopped wood that would be used in his wood stove in the winter.

Don is survived by his wife, LaVonne of 62 years; sister-in-law Pat (Robert) Gross of Carrington, North Dakota, their children: James (Kathy) Gross of St. Cloud, Minnesota; Jodi (Jason) Hovdenes, their children: Chaz Bauer, Jarret Bauer, and Ean, Chloe, and Carrie Hovdenes of Carrington, North Dakota; Shannon (Scott) Mehring, their children: Shae, Kadyn, and Taylen of Carrington, North Dakota; Sister-in-law Renae Olson of Las Vegas, Nevada; her sons Bradley and Rick (Wendy) of Hudson, Wisconsin; great niece Courtney and Haddie; great nephews, Chaz, Sam and Nicholas; sister-in-law Barb Peterson of Staples, Minnesota; and nephews, Peter, Paul and Dale Peterson; and many other nieces and nephews.