Rev. Richard Allen Peterson
September 23, 1931 – April 3, 2024
MEMORIAL SERVICE: Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 11:00 a.m. at Benson Baptist Church,6319 Maple St, Omaha. Memorials are suggested to Benson Baptist Church. To view a live broadcast of the Service, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “Live Cast” button at the top of the home page.
Richard was born on September 23, 1931. He was the only child of Tom and Edith Peterson. Richard grew up in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He loved sports, participating in football and wrestling in high school. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1949. He went on to study business at the University of Iowa, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business in 1953. After meeting and marrying the love of his life, Janis M. Smith on December 26, 1953, the young couple moved to Fort Riley, Kansas where Richard served in the Army for two years. During that time, they had their first son, Steven. Richard was called to go into the ministry after his discharge from the Army, so they moved to Kansas City, Kansas where he graduated from Central Baptist Theological Seminary and became an ordained minister. During this time, daughter Nancy was born. Richard then moved his family to Cherokee, Iowa where he was the minister of the Baptist Church for two years. He was then offered the position to minister at the First Baptist Church in Washington, Iowa, where he served for eleven years. During that time, Richard and Janis had two more children, Scott and Jenny. He also attended classes at the University of Iowa, earning a master’s degree in theology while raising a family and serving his community and church.
Richard accepted a new challenge as administrator of Maple Crest Nursing Home in Omaha, Nebraska where he again served his community, the residents, and staff at Maple Crest for twenty-five years. He continued his service at the home office of American Baptist Churches of Nebraska as a consultant and finally retired in December 2023 at the age 92.
Richard had a vast interest in love and life. He loved all people and strived to do God’s work whenever and wherever he found the opportunity. Some of his biggest joys were spending time with his family, traveling, celebrating holidays, spoiling his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, golfing, and playing racquetball (winning 64 trophies over the years). Richard also enjoyed listening to music and spending time at the family cabin in Minnesota where he fed the birds, drove the boat, manned the barbecue, and embraced the beauty of lake life.
Richard was an avid reader and continued to educate himself about the love of God and participating as a messenger of the words of Jesus by living his life dedicated to that purpose. The world was a better place with him in it and the countless lives he touched.
Richard is survived by his beloved wife of 70 years, Janis; children: Steven (Madonna), Nancy (Keith), Scott (Katie), and Jenny; grandchildren: Scott (Jess), Sarah (Andy), Alex (Felicia), Sophia, TJ, Paige, Sam, and Emma (AJ); great-grandchildren: Eli, Penelope, Cooper, Rhett, Gavin, Pepper, and Auggie.
His wonderful spirit will stay with us always. He will be dearly missed, but we will rejoice for him as he has now entered heaven in the warmth of God’s love and peace.
9 Comments
We are saddened for the loss of a great friend and neighbor on Lake Blanche. He was an inspiration for life and he always had a list of projects to do in case we got bored. He will be missed.
Prayers and condolences to Mrs Peterson , Steve, Nancy , Jenny and Scott. Rev Peterson was a good hearted man and cared for all those he came in contact with.
Peace and Blessings to you all.
My condolences to Dick’s wife and family. I am Shirley Albert’s daughter and was touched by Dick when he would call my mom to check up on her. He would ask me how I was, not really knowing him. But I did enjoy those calls as my mother did also. My mother can’t get on the internet because of a site problem. She was saddened by the news. Our prayers are to the families lives that Dick touched
He was a great man and friend. I’ve known Dick for a long time from the start of Maple crest in 1993. He also married my husband and I in 2009. He was an inspiration to me and many. I also grew up at Benson Baptist. I remember hearing him preach on Sundays. A. Wonderful man.
Edy sorry cor your loss !!
Jan and Steve, Nancy, Scot, Jenny,
We are so saddened to hear of “Pete’s” passing. He was simply the best at loving, caring, sharing and forgiveness. No other minister or pastor in my life has ever displayed those stellar attributes. As I grieve his
passing, I am remembering the many happy times are families prayed together, ate together and hiked the farm together. There are great memories of these times together; cockleburs in our socks, mud on our shoes and smiles on our faces. These adventures are priceless and not forgotten. Our condolences to ‘Pete’s’ family. He was a faithful, hard working servant of the Lord who has earned his eternal rest.
He had a great influence on my life. And I will never forget this amazing man.
Blessing to you all ,
Carl
May God give you all strength and comfort during this time of mourning the loss of Reverend Peterson.
Our sincerest condolences – we loved and respected him since our first meeting. We always looked forward to seeing Jan & Pete- our love to all of you ❤️
Will miss our Sundays together at the little brown church on the hill in Battle Lake. I know he is now walking on streets of Gold.
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