Delpho Peterson

The Reverend Delpho Peter Delores Peterson, age 90 years, entered his eternal reward with Jesus Christ on Monday morning, April 29, 2013, dying from old age and the effects of Parkinson's disease which had taken a destructive toll on his ability to walk and speak -- but not on his mind, nor on his spirit, nor on the strength of his hands, nor on his appetite! Delpho died in his bed at River Hills Village nursing home in Keokuk, Iowa, where he had been living since 2008, just a few minutes after a conversation with a nurse about no longer needing his oxygen mask in heaven. Delpho was the second of nine children, born 11:05pm on February 27, 1923, to Alf and Florence (Lindahl) Peterson, in the living room of the house built by his father on the family farm near Hallock, Minnesota. He was baptized into the Christian faith at Red River Lutheran Church on March 25th of that year, and confirmed there at age 14. Delpho graduated from Hallock High School in 1942, and continued working on the family farm prior to enlisting in the United States Army at Ft. Snelling, Minnesota, on July 22, 1944. Corporal Delpho Peterson served in World War II with the 87th Division for 41/2 months in Ger...[more]

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y, France, Belgium, and Luxembourg, earning the Victory Medal, American Theater Ribbon, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with 2 Bronze Battle Stars, Army of Occupation Medal--Germany, and a Good Conduct Medal, with honorable discharge July 1, 1946. Delpho returned to Minnesota and first enrolled in Lutheran Bible Institute, then in Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota, where he met Phyllis G. Swedberg. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Gustavus in June 1950, and married Phyllis two months later in Wheaton, Minnesota, before heading off as a newly married couple to Augustana Theological Seminary in Rock Island, Illinois, graduating with a Bachelor of Divinity in 1954, and ordained by the Augustana Lutheran Church Synod that summer in Los Angeles, California. Delpho and Phyllis raised a family of seven children throughout the next 31/2 decades. With Phyllis always by his side as administrator and secretary, Delpho pastored Saron Lutheran/St. James Lutheran in Saronville/Edgar, Nebraska (1954-1957); Faith Lutheran, Marcus, Iowa (1957-1963); Emanuel Lutheran, Dayton, Iowa (1963-1979); First Lutheran, Keokuk, Iowa (1979-1988); and as a part-time outreach pastor, Trinity Lutheran, Bradenton, Florida (1990-1995). Delpho genuinely loved and deeply cared for the people God called him to serve in every one of these church parishes. He faithfully preached God's Word every week for more than three decades -- always a new, fresh sermon every Sunday. Delpho also became a published Christian author in 2001, with "Lessons For Life -- How You Can Joyfully, Peacefully, Live Forever!" Delpho and Phyllis led several tour groups to the Holy Land, and were both very involved in Cursillo, a 3-day Christian training and renewal event. Delpho grew up with Swedish being spoken in his home and church, and also loved eating lutefisk by the serving bowl full, coin collecting, fishing, wood carving, playing the card game Rook (but not always by the rules!), time in Florida during the winter months -- and always his grandkids. Delpho was preceded in death by his parents, Alf (1981) and Florence (1980); by his brother Ray (1992); his sister Doris (2004); his wife Phyllis (2003); his son Timothy (2011); and his grandson Jonathan (2008). Survivors include his siblings Daniel (Mary Ellen), Spokane WA; Philip (Marlyce), Hallock MN; Violet Dahlgren, Plymouth MN; Eunice Folland (Ivan), Owatonna MN; Alice Joy Johnson, Lake Havasu City AZ; and Dian Erickson (Elsworth), St.Paul MN; his children/grandchildren Roger (Melanie; Rachel & Matthew), Minneapolis MN; Dean (Diane; Alison, Jack, & Sam), Scottsdale AZ; Pamela Kelly (Mike; Alaina, Bradley, & Nicole), Keokuk IA; David (Lot; Miki, Jackie, & Nathan), Huntington Beach CA; Lori Duppstadt (Ric; Alex, Preston, & Brandon), Mansfield TX; and Joel (Heidi; Annika & Eliana), Arlington TX; and several dozen nieces and nephews. A celebration of his life will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, May 4, 2013 at Fist Lutheran Church in Keokuk, Iowa with Rev. Rodney Underwood officiating. Burial will be at a later date at Keokuk National Cemetery in Keokuk, Iowa. Visitation will be Friday, May 3, 2013 at DeJong-Greaves Celebration of Life Center 917 Blondeau Street, Keokuk, IA and friends and family will gather from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. Memorials may be given to the "Delpho Peterson Memorial Fund" and all gifts received will be allocated between Delpho's home church, Parkinson's research, and Christian missions (c/o Pamela Kelly, 1712 Concert St., Keokuk IA 52632).