Jerome "Pete" Petersen

Jerome "Pete" Petersen passed away on February 4, 2026, at Northern Lakes Senior Living in Brainerd, Minnesota, at the age of 87.

Born on February 19, 1938, in Wadena, Minnesota, Pete was the son of Henry and Dorothy (Primasing) Petersen. He graduated with the Class of 1956 from New York Mills High School. It was at a dance in Bluffton that he met Mary Beringer; they were married on December 3, 1960. Together they shared a devoted life and were blessed with three children.

Pete worked as a machinist in the Twin Cities and later in quality control for precision machine shops. Known for his meticulous nature and sharp memory, he kept detailed notebooks capturing everything from card game scores to vacation activities and deer hunting results for each season.  He was a great storyteller of past events remembering small details that brought the memories back to life.

He had a deep love for the outdoors—camping, hunting, snowmobiling—and found joy in bringing people together. Pete planned countless family vacations, camping trips and snowmobile trips that created lasting memories. He was especially fond of playing strategy card games and never met a stranger, always ready with a story or an engaging question.

A skilled handyman with an inventive spirit, Pete designed and built a scale model of the retirement home he and Mary would eventually enjoy in Merrifield on the Mississippi River. He was also an active member of the Merrifield Marathons Snowmobile Club.

Pete led by example—teaching through action and living with integrity. Those who knew him remember his warmth, his humor, and his unwavering dedication as a husband, father and friend.

Jerome is preceded in death by his parents; brother Roger Petersen.

Jerome will be remembered by his wife of 65 years Mary; children: Roxanne (Mark) Scheffert, Jay (Micki) Petersen, and Brenda Fortier; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brother Keith (Mary Jo) Petersen; nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.

May his memory bring comfort to those who knew him.

The family would like to thank Northern Lakes Senior Living for the excellent care of their husband/father.

Memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer’s Association.

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