Obituary of Chet Peterson

Chester Glen “Chet” Peterson, 96, of rural Lindsborg died Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at his home. Chet was born August 25, 1926, in McPherson, KS to the late Alfred and the late Esther (Bengtson) Peterson. Chet’s childhood home was located between Lindsborg and Falun. He lived and farmed between those communities for the rest of his life. Chet attended White Rose one-room school and Falun High School. He graduated from Lindsborg High School and attended a semester of college at Ft. Hays State University. He left college because earning $1 an hour at Leaf’s Motor Company as a mechanic was good money in 1946. In 1947 he was hired by Dauer Implement International Harvester dealership in Falun as a mechanic, earning $1.25 an hour. He served in the U.S. Air Force towards the end of World War II. Chet married Jeanette G. Lefebvre on February 11, 1955, at Mentor, KS. Chet & Jeanette recently celebrated their 68th anniversary. In October, 2017, they had the honor of being Hyllningsfest King and Queen. Chet was a lifetime member of Bethany Lutheran Church. (His parents were married at Bethany Church after a Sunday service in 1925.) Chet’s passion was history of the church and its archives, as well as repairs and upkeep of the church building with creative solutions. He also served on the church board and taught Sunday School. Chet was a farmer, mechanic, rural mail carrier, co-owner of Valley Equipment International Harvester dealership in Lindsborg, and a board member of several civic organizations including Lions Club, Smoky Valley Historical Association, Elving School, district 38, Rose Hill-Bridgeport Cemetery, and Saline County Planning and Zoning. He was a pioneer in soil conservation in the area and embraced no-till farming and terracing to avoid erosion and soil loss. He was very involved in the Saline County Conservation District. In October 2017, Chet and Jeanette had the honor of being Hyllningsfest King and Queen. Chet, known as Morfar and Farfar to his grandchildren, could fix anything and loved to do it. Resourcefulness came from living through the depression. For example, as a young man his tractor didn’t have PTO, so he mounted the engine from his family’s abandoned car on the tongue of his pull-type combine to power it. Survivors include his wife: Jeanette, of the home; Trudy Stula (Bob) of Leawood, KS, Bruce Peterson (Kristi), Norman Peterson (Kathy) and Karna Peterson (Erik), all of Lindsborg; sister: Virginia Glover (Morris) of Bethpage, TN; 19 grandchildren; 3 great granddaughters; and numerous extended family members and friends. Memorial contributions may be made to Bethany Church or the Smoky Valley Historical Association in care of the of Crick-Christians Funeral Home, 103 N. Washington, Lindsborg, KS 67456.