Robert “Bob” A. Peterson, 94 of Brookings, passed away Sunday, January 7, 2018, at the Brookings Hospital following a brief illness. Visitations will be 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018, at Eidsness Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018, at First Presbyterian Church in Brookings. Memorials are preferred to the Boys and Girls Club of Brookings.
Robert “Bob” Peterson was born June 5, 1923, to parents Howard and Addie (Anderson) at Volga, South Dakota. Bob lived on the farm northeast of Brookings with his parents and six siblings. Bob attended Fountain School in rural Brookings County and graduated from Brookings High School. He married Helen (Nielson) on March 17, 1946. They enjoyed nearly 72 years of marriage together.
Bob farmed with his family, but was always interested in auctioneering. He very often practiced his skills while doing his farm duties. Bob’s skills soon developed to the point where he joined local auctioneers and became co-owners of Burlage Peterson Auctioneers and Realty.
Bob auctioneered for Brookings Livestock and for Sioux Falls Stockyards for over twenty-five years. It gave him great satisfaction to have his son James join the firm and then grandson Scott Peterson to carry on the career he enjoyed.
Bob was a person who always remembered your name and had a gift of wit and conversation while getting bids at his many farm sales.
He was a member of the South Dakota Auctioneers Hall of Fame; past president of the South Dakota Auctioneers Association; Director of Bank First; life member of the Brookings Elks Lodge No. 1490; and a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Brookings.
Bob loved tinkering with John Deere tractors as a hobby. He and Helen spent many winters in Arizona always making new friends and enjoying other “snow birds”.
Survivors include his wife Helen; son, James (Brenda) of Brookings; daughter, Nancy (Daniel) Quail of St. Cloud, Minnesota; four grandchildren; Eric (Miranda) of Brookings, Scott (Tricia) of Volga, Stacy (Quail) Sundberg of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Shane (Denelle) Quail of Sioux Falls; seven great-grandchildren: Vincent Sundberg, Erica and Elexa Peterson, Ezra and Eben Quail, Lane Liebsch and Quinn Peterson, as well as many nieces, nephews, and close friends.
Bob was preceded in death his parents; three brothers, Lawrence, Earl and Wayne; and three sisters, Mildred, Helen, and Harriet.
