Richard “Dick” Peterson

Richard “Dick” Peterson, age 84, of Belle Plaine, passed away on Tuesday, December
16, 2025, at The Emeralds of St. Paul. A memorial service for Dick will be Tuesday,
December 23, 2025, at St. John Lutheran Church in Belle Plaine at 11 a.m. with Pastor
Sherri Otto, officiating. Visitation will be Monday, December 22, 2025, at Kolden Funeral
Home in Belle Plaine from 4-7 p.m. and will resume one hour prior to the service at the
church. Interment will occur after the service at Oakwood Cemetery.
Dick was born on January 19, 1941, to Gilbert and Della (Beckstrom) Peterson in St.
James. After school, Dick became a teacher; first for 5 th and 6 th grade and later became
the district reading director for all grades.
Dick met Jean Cunningham and they were wed on September 25, 1959, at Galena
Lutheran Church in Ormsby. They had two children, Todd and Laurie.
Dick is survived by his wife, Jean; son, Todd; son-in-law Joey Behnke; grandchildren
Anthony Rivera, Seth Peterson, and Madelyn Peterson; and great-granddaughter
Cadence.
He is preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Laurie Behnke; and sister, Carol Ann.