Richard Allan Peterson

Richard Allan Peterson, known to all as Rick, passed away on March 10, 2026, at his home in Willmar, Minnesota, at the age of 71 following a 42-year battle with multiple sclerosis.

Born on January 22, 1955, in Benson, Minnesota, to William and Dolores (Broberg) Peterson, Rick grew up in Kerkhoven and graduated from Kerkhoven-Sunburg High School in 1973. A gifted athlete, he excelled in football, basketball, and baseball during his school years. He continued his education at Willmar Community College and Moorhead State University, where he also played baseball. In 1977, he began a career as a Blue Cross–Blue Shield agent in Pennock, retiring in the late 1990s due to his health.

On August 28, 1991, Rick married Sandra “Sandy” Lein. The couple made their home in Pennock before moving to Willmar in 2007. Rick remained deeply connected to baseball throughout his life, playing for the Norway Lake Lakers for many years before transitioning to managing the team and coaching youth baseball in Pennock. He also enjoyed golfing and hunting in his younger years. Later in life, he found quiet pleasure in tending his garden of flowers and vegetables and driving his scooter around the yard. He volunteered for many years with the Red Cross Bloodmobile and cherished his weekly Tuesday morning coffee gatherings with friends.

Rick faced his long illness with remarkable grace and a consistently positive outlook, often remarking that he had lived a good life. He is survived by his wife, Sandy; stepson, Adam (Karen) DeLaMartre; siblings, John (Diane) Peterson, Ruth Ann Ashburn, Marcia (Allan) Rice, and James (Kathy) Peterson; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Dolores Peterson.