Orville Petersen

Orville L. "Pete" Petersen, 77, a resident of Scottsbluff, Nebraska and formerly of the Anita and Exira, Iowa areas, passed away early Monday, November 4, 2002, at the Western Nebraska Veterans Home in Scottsbluff.The son of Elvin H. and Bertha M. Jessen Petersen, Orville was born October 2, 1925 in Audubon County where he grew up and attended school in the Exira Community School System. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church of Exira. He served in the United States Army for a short time and was released with a medical discharge. Pete was a member of the American Legion in Exira. He married Annabel M. Hansen and to them four children were born. They farmed southeast of Anita. Pete went to work for a construction firm and this started his life's work. He was superintendent of many construction jobs. Later he married Lois Huth and they had one daughter. He was also married to Mary Waddell. He returned to the Anita area for awhile before going to the veteran's home. Pete build many homes, grain bins and potato storages. He enjoyed having his son, grandsons and son-in-law come to Oregon to go hunting with him. At the veterans home, he enjoyed setting puzzles and sharing a good story and candy with the nurses.Pete is survived by four daughters, Darlene Dorsey and Leonard Jessen of Anita, IA, Susan and Craig Fusselman of Marne, IA, Janice and Will Ainsworth of San Diego, CA and Karen Petersen of Bellingham, WA; one daughter-in-law, Delores Petersen of Albany, OR; seven grandchildren, Richard and Sherri Petersen of North Pole, AK, Tammy and Scott Austin of Jefferson, OR, Clint Dorsey of Anita, IA, Leslie and Ronda Dorsey of Germany, Mark and Theresa Opbroek of Marne, IA, Matthew and Beth Opbroek of Maryville, MO and David Ainsworth of California; ten great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lois and Richard Anderson of Sierra Vista, AR and Joan and Bob Krogh of Blair, NE; many nieces, nephews and a host of friends.He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Martin and Serina Jessen, Dennis and Katrina Petersen; his parents, Elvin and Bertha Petersen; one brother, Eugene Petersen; one sister and brother-in-law, Iola and Dale Young; one son, LaVern Petersen; one grandson, Michael Opbroek; and one son-in-law, Lyle Dorsey.Funeral InformationA memorial service will be held Tuesday, December 3, 2002, at 10:30 A.M. at the Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic, Iowa with Rev. Karen Hoff of the Atlantic, Marne and Buck Creek United Methodist Churches officiating.