Obit: Peterson, Forest L. (1913 – 2009)
Contact: Dolores

Surnames: Peterson, Iverson, Mullen, Griffin, Hoff, Zeller, Bennett, Enderle, Heath

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI.) March 4, 2009

Peterson, Forest L. (20 October 1913 – 1 March 2009)

Forest L. Peterson, 95, of Tomah, passed peacefully into the Lord’s care Sunday, March 1, 2009, in his home in the Town of LaGrange, Monroe County while under the care of Hospice.

Forest was born Oct. 20, 1913, in the Town of Franklin, Jackson County, to Albert and Inga (Peterson) Peterson. He was raised in Beaver Creek, Taylor and Trempealeau County.

He married the love of his life, June Iverson Oct. 21, 1940, in Waukon, Iowa and to the union was born one son and five daughters.

When he was younger, he worked as a cowboy on ranches in Washington State and North Dakota. He worked on Scotts Cranberry Marsh at Warrens. For several years, he rode a freight train as a “hobo” searching for jobs wherever he could find them. After the birth of their son, Forest and June moved back out west. They ran a bottled dairy, and then took over operating a ranch. They moved back to Tomah and began dairy farming and eventually bought three farms. Three more children were born. Forest also did custom farm work and logging. In his later years, he worked as a mechanic at Fort McCoy until his retirement at age 68.

Forest liked to hunt, and he loved to fish for muskies and called himself the “Old Fisherman”. He also caught many prize muskies. Forest loved people and was one to tell great stories.

Surviving are one son Forest ”Junior” (Barbara) Peterson, Tomah; five daughters, Carol (Frank) Mullen, Sun Prairie, Bernadine Griffin, Linda (Steve) Hoff and Debra (Jerome) Zeller, all of Tomah, and Zona (Terry) Bennett, St. Cloud; a brother, Oren (Margaret) Peterson, Spokane, WA; 17 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, June, August 2, 2006; his parents; three brothers, Price, Francis, and Albert “Buddy” Peterson; a son-in-law, Roger Griffin; and a grandson, Gregory Alan Griffin.

Funeral services for Forest L. Peterson will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 5, 2009, at St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Kirby. Pastor Phillip Enderle will officiate and burial will be in the Upper Beaver Creek Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Taylor. Relatives and friends may call at Torgerson’s Funeral Home (715-284-4321) 408 N. Water St., Black River Falls, Wednesday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. and at the church Thursday from 10 a.m. until the time of services.

Pallbearers will be Kevin Peterson, Jr., Brittani Hoff, Kate Mullen, Connor Zeller, Christopher Bennett and Jacob Heath.