Franklin Delano Peterson of Kenyon, MN, passed away peacefully on May 10, 2026, at Cannon Rivers Assisted Living at the age of 93.

He was born to John and Myrtle Peterson on November 11, 1932, in Maple Ridge Township near Braham, Minnesota. He was one of eleven children. In his words, “They were poor but never hungry.”

He attended country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Braham High School in 1950, having joined the Air National Guard unit in Cambridge the previous fall. His studies at Augsburg College were cut short when his unit was activated into the U.S. Air Force on May 1, 1951, and he was stationed in Kirksville, Missouri. Following his service, he returned home and enrolled at St. Cloud State University in December 1952 to study business. He graduated in the spring of 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, accepted a position with Farmers Insurance Group, and enrolled at William Mitchell Law School while continuing to work full-time.

Frank married Beverly Ann Crabb on August 2, 1958, in Minneapolis, MN, after meeting on a blind date. He passed the bar exam in 1962 and opened his law practice in Kenyon the following year, where they raised their three children: Heidi, Durk, and Heather. They shared 57 years of marriage filled with an active social life and extensive travel around the world, including trips to Austria, Scandinavia, Germany, France, Switzerland, Jerusalem, Spain, Ireland, Tanzania, England, and Hawaii. He lovingly joked, “We only had one fight, but it lasted 57 years.”

Frank practiced law for 59 years, retiring in 2022 at the age of 89. He became an active and engaged member of the community from the moment he moved to town, serving in numerous organizations, including Sons of Norway, Lions Club, Commercial Club, American Legion, Legion Baseball team, Senior Citizen Housing Unit, Kenyon Development Corporation, Kenyon School Board, First Lutheran Church, Goodhue County Republicans, the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, and Osman Shrine. He held leadership positions in many of these organizations and felt a strong calling to serve his community. If he was not in the law office during the day or attending a meeting in the evening, he could often be found having coffee with friends while discussing politics and solving the world's problems. Although he rarely sat still, when he did, he enjoyed a good book and preferred those focused on history.

Frank had a great sense of humor and was especially fond of The Far Side comics. He spent many joyful hours in wig and makeup with the Cannon Valley Shrine Club as “Franklee,” delighting parade crowds while driving his dune buggy, complete with his painted likeness on the hood.

Frank also loved spending time outdoors. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing, mowing the lawn, walking in the woods, growing apples, playing outside with the dogs, and attending local sporting events.

He was proud of how his upbringing shaped his life in a family and community that emphasized hard work, strong values, good behavior, and a solid foundation in his faith in God. He took great satisfaction in passing those values on to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and was proud to say that all of them are above average. In the words of Garrison Keillor, “The women are strong, and the men are good-looking.”

Frank is survived by his children: Heidi (Harris) Haugen of Kenyon; Durk (Deidre) Peterson of Benbrook, Texas; and Heather (Joe) Tousignant of Kenyon. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Anders (Adriana) Haugen; Morgan Anderson, widow of the late Karl Haugen; Mikkel (Gabbi) Haugen; Laura (Joe) Meola; Eric Peterson; Cole (Carly) Tousignant; and Hannah (Drew) Jenniges, as well as twelve great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters, Delyte Robertson and Ione Maxwell, numerous nieces and nephews, and special friend Doris Walker.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly; his parents, John and Myrtle Peterson; his siblings, Myrlin “Kelly” Peterson, Duane “Duke” Peterson, Virginia Schleicher, Myron “Mike” Peterson, Dale “Red” Peterson, Betty Jane Lutterman, Janet Erbstoesser, and Joanne Reese; and his grandson, Karl Haugen.

In place of flowers, memorials may be directed to the K-W Education Foundation, First Lutheran Church, or the Osman Shrine Auxiliary.

A funeral service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at First Lutheran Church in Kenyon with Pastor D.J. Chatelaine officiating. A visitation will be held from 5 pm to 7 pm on Friday, May 22, at Michaelson Funeral Home in Kenyon with a Masonic service at 7 pm. An additional visitation will be held from 10 am until the time of service. Interment will be held at the Kenyon Cemetery with full military honors. A luncheon will follow the burial from noon to 2 pm at the Kenyon VFW.