—   Alvin (Pete) C. Peterson, age 93, of North Mankato died Friday, June 8, 2012 at Oak Terrace surrounded by his loving family.  A visitation will be held Friday from 6-8 p.m. at the Woodland Hills Funeral Home. Funeral services will take place Saturday morning at 10:30 at the Bethel Baptist Church in Mankato.  Alvin was born March 16, 1919 to Swedish immigrants Sven John Peterson and Elna Johnson Peterson on a farm near Oberon, North Dakota.   He was one of

nine children.  Alvin was baptized and confirmed at the Calvary Lutheran Church where his parents were charter members.  He was graduated from Oberon High School in 1936.

  In 1938 he was graduated from the Chillicothe Business College in Missouri.   After graduation he moved to Minneapolis and walked the streets for three months seeking work during the Depression before becoming employed by the Northwestern Nation-al Bank of Minneapolis.  On May 2, 1942 he married Jean M. Kelly at the U.S. Naval  Training Station at Great Lakes, Illinois.   Alvin served four years in the U. S. Navy at  Great Lakes, Illinois and in  the South Pacific during World War II.   While serving in the Philippines he was in  attendance when General MacArthur gave his "I have returned" speech.  After the war they lived in Richfield, Minnesota and later purchased a dairy farm near Hector, Minnesota.

  In 1957 the family moved to Chandler where Alvin purchased the State Bank of  Chandler.  He was President and Managing Officer until 1981 and was later recognized by the Minnesota Banking Association for 50 years in banking.  He served on the Agricultural and Rural Development Committee of the Minnesota Bankers Association for 16 years.  After Alvin retired they moved to Mankato and spent their summers at their lake home on Stony Lake near Hackensack, Minnesota.

  His activities included lay ministry, Sunday school teacher, and church board member.  He served as a board member of the Lost Timber Bible Camp and the Chandler School District.  Alvin was a member of the Chandler Civic Club and the American Legion.  He enjoyed politics and was active on both the state and local level.  He was a delegate to several state Republican Conventions and for many years served as the county Republican treasurer.

  Even in retirement he donated hours of service to his community.  He was chapter chairman of SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), president of the Golden K Kiwanis Club and volunteered with the income tax assistance program through the Summit Center for senior citizens and the Mankato State University international students.

  His interests included his family, golf, bridge, gardening, sports, and current events.  Alvin and Jean enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

  Throughout his life he was interested in agriculture and supported farmers, which stemmed from his roots growing up on a family farm.

  Alvin is survived by his four children Diane (Merlin) Mather of Bloomington, IL, Dean Peterson of N. Mankato, Mary (Terrence) Nere of N. Mankato, and Laurie (Myron) Erstad of Mankato.  He had seven grandchildren: Marianne (Brian) Morgan, Martin Mather, Chad (Jordan) Nere, Dustin (Bethany) Nere, and Nathan, Brittany, and Ryan Erstad; and two great-grandchildren: River Morgan and Jacob Nere.  Alvin also had several nieces and nephews.  His lone surviving sibling is Lloyd (Arlene) Peterson, Madison, Wisconsin.

  He was preceded in death by Jean, his wife of 65 years; his parents, Sven and Elna Peterson; his siblings: Gunner, Emil, Leonard, infant Glenn, Walter, Glenn, Elsie and his half sister Hazel.

  Alvin will be remembered for his integrity, his remarkable memory for dates, facts and people, his kind gentle spirit, his sense of humor, and his abundant generosity.  He was a man of great faith and character.

  In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Bethel Baptist Church, Hospice and The Red Cross.