Raymond Harold Peterson age 83 of Tracy passed away Friday, December 19, 2014 at Prairie View Senior Living. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 23 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy. Visitation is 4:00-7:00 p.m. Monday at the Tracy Area Funeral Home with a CCW Rosary at 4:00 p.m. and prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday. Burial is in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Ray Peterson was born September 29, 1931 in Redfield, South Dakota to Anton and Sylvia (Strunk) Peterson.  The family moved to Garvin in 1932 and he was baptized there at the Congregational Church.  Ray attended Garvin Public School and Tracy High School.  After leaving school, he was a gandy dancer for the railroad and joined the US Army from 1950-53.  Ray served as a radio operator during the Korean War.  Following his discharge, he returned to Garvin working at the creamery.  On October 17, 1953 Ray was united in marriage to Helen Toupal.  He held various jobs including lineman for the telephone company and worked as a carpenter for local businesses.  In 1963, Ray and Helen moved to Illinois where he worked building boats before driving truck for Royal Crown Cola.  Upon returning to Tracy, Ray worked as a carpenter eventually going into business for himself.   He worked at St. Mary’s for a year as environmental engineer. He built many houses and farm buildings and continued doing handy work throughout the community in later years.  Ray was a member of the VFW, American Legion, and First Shift Coffee Watch at the Red Rooster.  He enjoyed a good game of pool, woodworking, building doll houses, and making clocks.  He had the amazing ability to look at a space in a building or room and visualize its potential.

Ray is survived by his wife Helen of 61 years; children:  Patricia (Jerry) Fogelson, Vickie (Richard) Unger of St. Ann, MO, Anthony (Peggi) Peterson of Tracy, Thomas Peterson of Crest Hill, IL, Timothy (Pam) Peterson of Sioux Falls, SD and Terry (Bobbie) Peterson of Chatfield, MN; 13 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; brothers Arthur and Carl; and sisters Nina, Eleanor, and Eva; with many nieces and nephews.  He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Louis, Lyle, Ivan, and Robert, and grandchildren Justin and Nathan Peterson and Richard Unger III.  He was blessed with many friends.