Elbert “Pete” Martin Peterson, 94, of Blue Springs, Missouri passed away at the Veterans Home in St. James, Missouri on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Graveside services will be 12:00 a.m. Friday, June 21, 2024 at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Higginsville, Missouri.
Pete was born March 6, 1930 in Pawhuska, Oklahoma to Ralph Eugene and Lola Mae (Wood) Peterson. He was a Barnsdall Oklahoma graduate. Pete was a big football player as well. He went on to college at the University of Miami in Oklahoma. At the age of 21 he entered the US Air Force and served in the Korean War. Pete met Edie while in the service. They were married on July 5, 1952. The were married for 70 years.
He began his electrical engineer career in North Carolina in 1958 and moved his family to KC in 1962, and retired from Western Electric in 1985. Pete retired after 30 years. After retiring, he was a consultant for several years. Then went on to teaching math at Longview College. He retired at the age of 82. He was a deacon of Loma Vista Baptist church for many years, and currently was a member of First Baptist Church of Grain Valley, MO. Whether he was teaching a Bible Study class, or in his daily walk of life, he would share of God’s love and the plan of salvation for eternal life. Summer family vacations he always enjoyed, as they would spend time at the lake, or on Edie’s family ranch. Pete was an avid water skier, where his dad taught him at an early age. On the ranch, he enjoyed bailing hay, milking cows, riding horses, and participating in any of the daily chores, with his 6 brother- in- laws. In addition to family vacation times, he enjoyed golfing, and the competition of being on the golf course with friends, and had a love for bowling. Many years he would coach Little League Baseball, overseeing his son Randy’s baseball teams. Music was a love of Pete’s. His mom taught him years ago, sitting on their front porch, how to play a harmonica. Oh, how he enjoyed playing and entertaining with his harmonica, up until his last few months on this earth. In addition, he spent many evenings with Sandi and Randy, singing church hymns, fun tunes, and some Johnny Cash songs, with his Electric guitar. Teaching Sunday School classes to youth and adults was a passion of Pete’s. He never stopped ministering, and carried that ministry until he took his last breath of life, on this earth. Smiles and daily hugs were what sustained him after losing Edie, and his time at the VA home in St. James, MO, many testimonies were shared with his daughter Sandi, of the lives he touched whole he was there, his legacy will live on. Edie was the love of Pete’s life, and his family was the joy of his life. He always enjoyed family gatherings with his kids, and especially loved making memories with his grandkids, and great grands.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Edie Peterson; sister, Ruth Williams; and brother-in-law, Bill Williams.
Pete is survived by daughter, Sandi (Peterson) Paden; son, Randy Peterson; 6 grandchildren: Angela Jones (Bill), Philip Paden, Alex Peterson (Erica), Jake Peterson, Nick Peterson and Kayla Peterson; 4 great grandchildren: Ian Peterson, Alivia Jones, Hailey Peterson, Jacob Peterson; and several nieces and nephews.
Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO 816-847-4441