Robert F. "Pa" Peterson, West Concord, MN, passed away at his home on Saturday, December 7, 2013. Robert "Bob" Peterson was born February 16, 1927 in Spencer Brook Township near Princeton, MN to Fred and Minnie Peterson. Bob grew up on the family farm with his parents, six sisters and one brother. He attended country school through the Eighth grade while working on and off the family farm. At the age of 17, Bob joined the Navy and served for 18 months in the South Pacific during World War II. After honorable discharge from the Navy, Bob returned to Minnesota and worked on the ore ships before heading to Faribault, MN. In Faribault while working on a farm, he met beautiful, spirited young women, Elaine Genevieve Chavie. Elaine captured his heart and they were married in Faribault on August 9, 1950. The young couple started farming and a family in Walcott Township, Faribault, MN. They later moved to a farm near Lake Mazaska and continued farming. Bob farmed, milked cows, raised hogs and chickens. In 1959, Bob and Elaine moved the family to rural West Concord, MN. Bob started working construction, specifically as a back hoe operator on pipeline crews that took him to jobs in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Missouri and eventually to California and Arizona. Bob was not a stranger to hard work. At a young age, he worked off the farm to help bring in income and continued his hard work well into retirement by scrapping iron, taking down silos, cutting down trees and operating his back hoe and his dozer. Bob not only operated the equipment, but could fix and repair as well. Many of these talents he passed on to his children; teaching them to be resourceful and independent. Bob loved the outdoors including hunting, especially the deer seasons with his sons, grandsons, granddaughters and great-granddaughter. He always had a spring in his step and a twinkle in his eye. He was known as "Pa" to not only his family but a community. Bob is survived by six sons: Steve Peterson of Cambridge MN; Fred (Becky) Peterson Kenyon MN; Larry (Bea) Peterson, Cambridge MN; Mark (Nikki) Peterson, Nerstrand MN; Scott (Jean) Peterson, Wanamingo MN; John Peterson Wanamingo MN; and seven daughters: Joyce (Vinnie) Rauk, Nerstrand MN; Cindy Meyer, Kenyon, MN; Jane Starch (Bob Ryan), Owatonna MN; Julie (Ray) Greseth, Wanamingo MN; Eileen (Scott) Germundson, Wanamingo, MN; Laura (Bryan) Haugen, Kenyon MN; Peggy Burrow (Brandon Peterson), Wanamingo MN;; two sisters: Dorothy Wohlfiel of California and Laura (Rollie) Nelson, New Brighton, MN; special friend, Vernetta Bieniek. Bob is also survived by 44 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, sister-in-laws, brother-in-law, nieces, nephews and dear friends too numerous to name. Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine Peterson in 1998; daughter Annette Engel; grandson Matthew Greseth and Jason Meyer; son-in-laws Tim Meyer, Dean Burrow and David (Red) Meyer; his parents; one brother and four sisters. Visitation will be at Michaelson Funeral Home, Kenyon on Thursday December 12, 2013 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM and at St. Michael's Catholic Church on Friday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Funeral services will be held Friday December 13, 2013 at 11:00 AM at St. Michael's Catholic Church. Interment will be in the St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery in Kenyon. Visitation: 12/12/2013 16:00 12/12/2013 19:00 Service: and one hour prior to the service at the church 12/13/2013 11:00