Sherwood Eugene "Pete" Peterson, Sr.

A life well lived came to a peaceful close. Sherwood Eugene “Pete” Peterson, Sr., 84, of rural Baker, MN, passed away in an afternoon nap on Friday, May 23, 2025, at Eventide Nursing Home, Moorhead, MN.

A family man, a proud farmer, and a larger-than-life personality.

Pete was born on October 17, 1940, to Eugene and Hope (Young) Peterson, at St. John’s Hospital in Fargo, ND. He grew up on the family farm, Valley Polled Hereford Farms, outside of Baker, MN. Here he farmed with his father – raising cattle, Quarter Horses, producing certified seed grains and seed potatoes. His first job on the farm was spreading manure and weeding the potatoes with two horses. He attended District 115 country school and graduated from Moorhead High School, Class of 1957. He enlisted in the North Dakota Air National Guard from 1959 – 1965, while attending North Dakota Agricultural College where he graduated with a B.S. Degree in Animal Husbandry. He was united in marriage to Marilynn Alme on August 18, 1962, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead, MN.

In 1962, Pete and Marilynn moved to their newly created farmstead where they raised their three boys. A Century farm, the Peterson Seed Farm was a foundation, registered and certified seed grower of barley, spring wheat, soybeans and potatoes. In 1971 - Pete, along with a few other area potato growers together purchased Mainline Potato Company, Downer, MN from his father. In 1980, Pete was a tireless advocate opposed to the MN Hazardous Waste Sites proposed in Clay County – one site included Peterson’s Farm. With the help of other community leaders, the proposed site was dropped in late 1982. Pete retired from farming prior to spring planting in 2002.

Pete was very active in the community and belonged to many local organizations, as a kid he was in 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA). During College, Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) Fraternity, Saddle & Sirloin Club, Rahjah Club, Blue Key Member. As an adult, Glyndon Lions Club, Elmwood Cemetery Board, Glyndon Boy Scouts, Big Cormorant Lake Association – Beach Captain – Pike’s Bay, and the Clay County Historical Society Board.

As a farmer, Pete continued to play a very active role in the community and as the years went by, his list of achievements was abundant. Those achievements included the 1976 MN Outstanding Young Farmer Award, the 1978 King Agassiz Award from the Red River Winter Show in Crookston, MN, the 1991 Minnesota Crop Improvement Association (MCIA) Premier Seedsman Award, and the 2011 Achievement in Crop Improvement Award (MCIA).

Pete also belonged to many farming organizations and boards and was influential in the national, state, and local farming culture. Those organizations included being a part of the National Potato Promotion Board, Area One Potato Research and Promotion Council, Red River Valley Potato Growers Association, MN Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) Advisory Committee , MN Soybean Association, MN Association of Wheat Growers and the MN Barley Research and Promotion Council, Minnesota Crop Improvement Association, Clay County Crop Improvement Association, Advisory Board for the University of MN, Crookston, MN, Northern Crops Institute council member, Northwest Farm Manager Group, Agassiz Club, Advisory Board for the Buffalo - Red River Watershed District.

He belonged and was active with many local church groups, including the Baker/Downer Presbyterian Church, Glyndon Lutheran Church, and Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead.

Pete and Marilynn enjoyed traveling and made it to all 50 States in their time together, the first trip was a honeymoon drive to the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. Pete loved watching Westerns, reading and driving around looking at crops. He enjoyed attending all his children’s events and playing an active role in their lives by attending their sporting events, Scouts, and piano recitals. He was a proud Dad of three Eagle Boy Scouts. He loved spending time with his family and friends at their lake cabin on Big Cormorant.

If you knew or met Pete over the years, you certainly did not forget him. He had countless stories to share, Ole & Lena jokes, and enjoyed making sure he said hello to everyone he knew or didn’t know. He cared for everyone that he met – he would take the time to cheer someone up, listen to them, give advice, teach them a lesson, and encourage them. He truly enjoyed living his entire life and raising his family in the Baker, Sabin, Downer area – he didn’t want to live anywhere else.

If you were a guest at the lake cabin, he would not let you leave without a good game of “Trouble”. He always enjoyed a friendly card or dice game at the Midway in Downer and Baker Elevator. Was proud to be crowned Mr. Potato Head during the annual Barnesville Potato Days in 2001. And he truly enjoyed emceeing the annual Demolition Derby at the Clay County Fair in the 70’s and 80’s…a familiar call like - ”Sorry car 54 – you gotta break your stick!”. He did in fact blow the radio speakers out in his John Deere tractor listening to John Anderson’s “Swingin’”.

He loved the fictional character - Tigger. He personified the same characteristics – enthusiasm, optimism, friendly, charismatic and outgoing. From “The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers” song --- “…their bouncy, trouncy, ouncy, pouncy – fun, fun, fun, fun, fun. But the most wonderful thing about Tiggers – is I’m the only one.” Pete, certainly was this.

He was a tireless promoter of the crop products he produced and encouraged the production of high-quality certified seed. Locals will remember the letters he dug in his fields each Fall for the airplanes overhead to see on approach to Fargo, ND – “Eat Spuds”, “Eat More Potatoes”, “Use Soy Oil, Hardee’s Does”. He was a steward of the land and caretaker of the animals on the farm. As a certified seed grower - he worked closely with both the NDSU and U of Minnesota plant breeders – taking the risk on brand new varieties before public release. To this day, Mainline Potato Co. awards a scholarship to a student enrolled in Horticulture at NDSU.

At Mainline Potato Co., he treasured the hard-working crew over the years and appreciated all of the workers instrumental in its success. Also, throughout the 1970's and 80's - Mainline Potato Co. washed, bagged, and shipped, donated No. 1 potatoes from Mainline and area potato growers in the Red River Valley free of charge. The potatoes were distributed to food bank organizations in the FM area and throughout the United States.

With all things considered, Pete was most proud of his teammate in life – his wife, Marilynn and their three sons growing into the quality men that they are today. He would let everyone know that they are, by far, his greatest accomplishment. As a Grandpa, he loved and treasured his grandkids – their events and many moments of shared laughter with his silliness.

Sherwood “Pete” and his family would like to thank all the staff at Eventide Nursing Home Heritage wing during his stay. Chaplin Streed had become a very good friend of Sherwood – he certainly treasured the connection they created with each other. Pete thanks all of the farmers, neighbors, friends and strangers that he ever got the chance to talk with, work with, make a deal, and share a story with…he thrived on activity and people. He missed those that he knew (especially his Father, Mother and older sisters) – that had passed on before him…he is now with them – telling a story & catching up.

Here are some ways to honor Sherwood: Get active, plant a few potato plants, tell a story, travel to all 50 states, strike up a conversation with someone you meet, or enjoy a generous slice of banana cream pie! In lieu of flowers and gifts – Sherwood would be thrilled for you to consider a gift in his memory to your local food bank.

Asked how he hoped to be remembered? “Wonderfully”, he would say.

Pete is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Marilynn; children, Sherwood (Wendy) Peterson, Jr., Rochester, MN, Charles (Melissa) Peterson, Moorhead, MN, and John Peterson, Moorhead, MN; grandchildren, Andrew (Darby) Peterson, Farmington, MN, and Hannah Peterson, Rochester, MN; great-grandchild, Dempsey Peterson; and many other loving relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Eugene and Hope; and his siblings, Shirley Krzyzaniak Engebretson, Betty Walstad, and LaRue Kocourek, and infant brother James Arthur.

Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M., followed by the prayer service at 6:00 P.M., Friday, June 6, 2025, at Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN. Visitation will continue from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M., followed by the Celebration of Life at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, MN. A livestream of the service will be available on Pete’s webpage at www.wrightfuneral.com where a guestbook, expanded obituary and video tribute may also be found. Burial will take place at Elmwood Cemetery, Sabin, MN, following the services in Moorhead.