VERN C. PETERSON

Vern C. Peterson, age 91, of Amboy, died Saturday, March 2, 2013 at the Mapleton Community Home. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, March 15, 2013 at the Amboy United Methodist Church in Amboy. Visitation will be from noon until service time at the church on Friday. Spencer-Owen Funeral Home of Winnebago is assisting the family with the arrangements. Web tributes may be left at www.spencerowen.com. Vern C. Peterson was born November 3, 1921 in Shelby Township, Blue Earth County near Amboy, MN to Edwin and Harriet (Krause) Peterson. He was raised on the Peterson farm just southwest of Amboy on the Blue Earth River. He attended country school and later Amboy High School, completing grade 8 before being called to the family farm for his help there. He worked for many area farmers for a number of years learning many skills that would help him later in life. Vern was married to Ruth E. Riley on October 4, 1940 at Gordonsville, MN. Vern and Ruth continued to do farm work for area farmers before moving to their current farm southeast of Amboy; they started farming on their own on March 1, 1956. They continued to farm and then retire on the farm known as Sterling Hills on the shore of the former Jackson Lake for the rest of their years. Vern was an avid horseman, enjoying riding and driving horses, and for many years raised Reg. Belgian horses, under the Sterling prefix in the register. Vern was an accomplished plowman with his Belgian horses winning many contests; he was also in demand as a judge for horse plowing contests. He also enjoyed hand corn husking contests and competed at the National level on two occasions. He enjoyed history and was a good storyteller of local events. He also enjoyed restoring old machinery and tinkering in his shop. He enjoyed his time spent with family and friends and the fellowship it brought. Vern was a member of the Amboy United Methodist Church, Belgian Draft Horse Corp., MN Horse Breeders Assn., and a Charter Member of the Gopher Saddle Club. He is survived by his son, Mark of Amboy, sister, Betty Pahl of Vernon Center, daughter-in-law, Susan Peterson-Johnson of Blue Earth, two grandchildren, Sarah (Mike) Summerbell of Andover and Wade (DeeAnn) Peterson of New Ulm, five great grandchildren: Jared, Danica & Derek Nelson, Erin & Annika Summerbell and many nieces, nephews and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, Ruth in 2006, sons, Larry and Dean Peterson, an infant brother, Lyle, a brother, Lee Peterson and sister, Shirley Peterson.