Howard James Petersen

Funeral service for Howard James Petersen will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at Pioneer Hall in Dupree, SD with Pastor Shannon Hinrich officiating. There will be one hour visitation prior to the service. Burial will follow in the Dupree Cemetery. Evans Jensen Funeral Home of Lemmon, SD is entrusted with the arrangements in SD. Visitation for Howard will be from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, September 5, 2024 at Gillette Memorial Chapel in Gillette, WY. Howard passed away on Sunday, September 1, 2024 at his home in Gillette after a short battle with cancer. He was 71 years old.

Howard James Petersen was born on April 9, 1953 to Elmer “Pete” and Bonnie (Riede) Petersen in Dupree, SD where he attended school and graduated in 1971. Howard was the third of seven children; sisters, Billie, Linda, Debbie and Connie, brothers, Scott and Daniel. He married Lila Till on December 10, 1977 and they were blessed with four children; Elmer, Ernie, Kate and Dwayne. Later they were blessed again when they adopted Marion, Vern, Shawneequa and Stevie. Howard enjoyed hunting, fishing and snowmobiling. He spent many younger years hunting and fishing with two special uncles; Howard and George Petersen. Howard taught all of his children to hunt and fish and spent many hours snowmobiling with them. He worked as a mechanic for many years. Howard was a member of the Dupree Volunteer Fire Department for many years. Howard is survived by his wife Lila, children, Elmer, Ernie, Kate (Nathan) Matthews, Dwayne, Marion, Shawneequa and Stevie; siblings, Billie (Mike) Hansen of Newcastle, WY; Linda (Larry) Ritter of Custer, SD; Connie (John) Truman of Spearfish, SD; Scott (Twila) Petersen of Dickenson, ND; Daniel (Ellen) Petersen of Allegany, NY, mother in law, Virginia Till, and brother-in-law, Ralph Fields of Chetwynd British Columbia, Canada, nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer ‘Pete” and Bonnie Petersen, father in law, Jerry Till, son, Vern Petersen, sister, Debbie Fields, paternal grandparents, Lars and Sophie Petersen, maternal grandparents, Daniel Riede, Vance and Susanna Vaughan, two special uncles, Howard and George Petersen and several other aunts and uncles. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 W. 5th St. Gillette, WY 82716 Condolences may also be expressed at www.gillettememorialchapel.com