Obituary of Carl Victor Petersen

Carl Victor Petersen

Carl Victor Petersen passed away peacefully in Tucson, AZ, on 17 February 2020. He was 88 years old. Born in Tyler, MN, on 27 April 1931 to Iver and Mathilda Petersen, Carl's amazing life spanned ten decades, and was filled with many adventures around the world. Carl was extremely proud of his Danish heritage and as a child he learned to speak both English and Danish. After graduating college from the University of Minnesota where he received a degree in Agricultural Engineering, he joined the United States Marine Corps in 1952 and became a pilot, flying a number of different fixed and rotary wing aircraft. While on active duty in the USMC, he flew missions in Korea during the Korean War. He would go on to serve 21 years in both the active duty and reserved armed forces before retiring in 1973 as a LtCol, USMC. Carl was also a farmer, raising dairy cows and crops in Northfield, MN, before moving to Dawson, MN, with his family in 1971 where was a plant manager at Dawson Mills. In 1978, Carl was hired by the Cooperative League of the USA, an international consulting firm that worked with a number of developing countries around the world helping to advance their agricultural industries. He and his family traveled to New Delhi, India, and over the course of the next four years, Carl worked closely with his Indian colleagues transforming that country's oil seed processing industry. It was his accomplishments during this time period that Carl was most proud of. He was also a very accomplished carpenter and handyman. There was nothing Carl could not build or fix. After returning to the United States from India in 1983, he spent his remaining working years in Tucson, AZ, helping countless friends remodel and fix their homes before permanently retiring there.

Carl met his first wife, Marjorie Anne Wray Petersen, a native of Parker, SD, in Tyler, MN, where Marj was a school teacher. They were married in December of 1953 and were together for 41 years, raising four children together until Marj passed away in 1994. Following Marj's passing, Carl was able to reconnect with his 7th grade teacher from Tyler, MN, Ruth Sorensen Johansen Petersen, who was also a widow. They married in Tucson, AZ, in 1995 and were able to share 20 years together before Ruth passed away in 2015.

Carl is survived by his four children, daughter Rebecca (Mark), daughter Vicky, son Richard (Dante), and son Tom (Tammy). He also has six grandchildren, Mara (Rebecca), Sarah (Rebecca), Carter (Richard), Quincy (Richard), Isabella (Tom), and Molly (Tom). Carl never hesitated to lend a hand to friends and neighbors. He was adored by all he met, and loved dearly by many friends and family. He lived a full life and will be missed. Rest in Peace Carl.