of Mountain View, AR

May 3, 1935 - May 20, 2016

Gene Petersen was born May 3, 1935 in Minneapolis, MN to Viggo and Evelyn Larson Petersen, and departed this life May 20, 2016 at Calico Rock, AR, at the age of 81.
When he was 10 years old, they moved to Askov, MN to take over his grandparent's farm. He joined the Army in July, 1954. While living in Washington State, he met and married Verna Nelson in 1959. Three children were born; Darren, Sharen and Ricky. They moved to Askov, MN, in August 1966 after his father passed away. He drove a bulk milk truck for a while, then bought a farm and started dairy farming. He married Joyce Nielsen, July 1973. He stopped farming in 1978. He then bought and operated Vogue Theatre in Sandstone, MN in May, 1980. After thirteen years of being a substitute mail carrier, he became a full time carrier. He retired from carrying the mail September 3, 1999. He and his wife moved to Mountain View, AR in April, 2000. In September 2001, Joyce, passed away after battling cancer. He then met and married, Meladean Joyce Kirk on June 30, 2002.

He was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 4766, in Mountain View, AR. and a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 0243 in Askov, MN.
He is survived by his wife Meladean of the home; daughter, Sharen Johnsen and husband Lee of Askov, MN; son, Ricky Petersen and Deb of Sandstone, MN; step-son Alan Pogue of Mountain View, AR; four grandsons, Adam Johnsen and Samuel Johnsen both of Askov, MN, Steven Johnsen and Tarren of Rexburg, Idaho; Mark Johnsen of Minneapolis, MN; three granddaughters, Jennifer and Ryan Beckman and family of Cambridge, MN, Ashley and Norman Rockwell of Oahu, HI and Melissa Petersen of Lebanon, MO; two great-grandsons, Jayden Beckman and Kooper Johnsen; one great-granddaughter, Riley Beckman; one step grandson Chris Pogue and family of Mountain Home, AR; one step granddaughter, Megan Freeman and family of Fifty Six, AR; two sisters, Kathy and John Bade of Askov, MN and Darlene and Lawrence Wallner of Mesa, AZ

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Joyce, son Darren, sister Mary Ann, brother Leslie and granddaughter Renee Johnsen.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday, May 23, 2016 at Fifty-Six Baptist Church with Brother Junior Barham and Brother Rob Arnold officiating. Arrangements are by Roller Crouch Funeral Home of Mountain View, AR.
Interment will be at Fifty-Six Cemetery in Fifty-Six, AR.
Pallbearers: Lee Johnsen, Ricky Petersen, John Bade, Bill Ditto, Roger Dunham and Jack Powell.
Honorary Pallbearers: Dr. Adam Gray, Dr. Dawson Irvin, Rusty Larson, all nurses and CNA staff of White River Health Care Calico Rock and Hospice of North Arkansas.

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