Everett Peterson

      Everett D. Peterson, 92, of Mt. Pleasant, died Friday, November 29, 2002, at the Henry County Health Center.

      Visitation for Mr. Peterson will be held at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, on Monday, December 2, 2002, beginning after 12 noon, where the family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. that evening. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 3, at 10 a.m., at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery. Memorials have been established to the Eden Alternative at Park Place.

      Everett was born on February 24, 1910, in rural Henry County near Swedesburg Iowa, to Charles and Ida May Canby Peterson. He graduated from Olds High School in 1927 and Iowa Wesleyan College in 1931 with a bookkeeping degree. He married Florence Forbes on September 10, 1938, at the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. She preceded him in death on June 23, 1941.

      In the 1930s Everett worked for the Iowa State Department of Transportation in construction management. For many years he farmed with his brother Warren Peterson and Warren's wife Berniece. Their operation also included milking cows and raising hogs. Everett and Warren owned and operated Peterson Brothers, Inc. and sold Asgrow seeds.

      Everett was active in the Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church and Prairie Gem Methodist Church. In the 1930s he coached the Cedar Grove Tigers in kittenball. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeye football and basketball fan. For many years Everett was a Midwest Old Threshers volunteer and in 2001 was presented the Old Threshers Award for his efforts. In 1997, he received special recognition as a major donor of the Midwest Old Threshers. He bowled on the Peterson Implement Bowling Team until he was 80 years old.

      Mr. Peterson is survived by one sister Nora Kaighin of West Burlington, Iowa. He is also survived by three nieces, Carol and her husband Randy Ruggles of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Janis Smith of Escondido, California, and Velma Byczek of Lockridge, Iowa; six nephews, Merrill Peterson and his wife Carol, of Tampa, Florida, Don Peterson and his wife Karen of Madison, Wisconsin, Wendell Peterson and his wife Audrey of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Vern Peterson and his wife Gwen of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Merlin Evans and his wife Marilyn of Downey, California, and Irvin Kaighin and his wife Beverly of Bettendorf, Iowa. He is also survived by several great and great-great-nieces and nephews.

      Along with his wife and parents, Mr. Peterson was preceded in death by three brothers, Lloyd Peterson, Lester Peterson, and Warren Peterson; two sisters, Nettie Anderson and Leona Evans; and three nephews, Warren Lynn Peterson, Dale Anderson and Richard Evans; and one niece, Vada Johnston.