Clarence O. Peterson

Clarence Obert Peterson, 96, died of natural causes on January 13, 2021, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks.   He was born in Grand Forks on July 31, 1924 to Bertha (Dahle) and Ernest Peterson and had seven sisters.  Clarence graduated from Central High School in 1941.  He served in the Army during World War II from 1943 to 1945.  When asked what he did in the Army, his answer was, “travel,” as he was posted in North Carolina, California and later to Saipan in the South Pacific.  Upon his honorable discharge at the end of the war, Clarence attended the University of North Dakota and then started Peterson Construction Company Inc.

Clarence married Margaret Haugen on New Year’s Day, 1948, in Fosston, MN.  They were married 63 years until her death in 2011.  They raised five daughters and one son.  Clarence often jokingly lamented the fact that with seven sisters and five daughters, he was always surrounded by women. After their wedding, Clarence and Margaret made their home in Grand Forks.  They spent summer weekends at their lake home in Bemidji, MN where Clarence loved boating, frying walleye and eating corn on the cob.  Winter months were spent in Palm Desert, CA.   

Clarence’s father was a carpenter, so his affinity for building came naturally. At age 10, Clarence built a playhouse with some scrap lumber his dad had brought home.  After posing for a photo with the newly-erected house, Clarence tore it down because his father needed the lumber.  He would later say he began his construction and demolition career on the same day.  In 1950, Clarence and Margaret formed Peterson Construction Company. Their first job was constructing the sidewalks on 4th Street for the City of Grand Forks.  They built several homes on South Ninth Street but grew to specialize in commercial construction, working as far as Illinois, Idaho, and Texas with as many as 100 employees.  Throughout his life, Clarence’s reputation was one of high standards, honesty, and fairness. He would advise you that accepting the low-price bid wasn’t necessarily the best and least expensive choice.  If you’ve walked through the UND pedestrian skywalk across Columbia Road or been in the GF Airport, you’ve experienced some of his company’s work.   He also served on the Board of Directors for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota and as a director of both the National and North Dakota Associated General Contractors, where he was honored by the AGC with the title of “Lifetime Director.”  He was a member of GF Builders and Traders, Rotary and the GFAFB Military Affairs Committee. 

Clarence is survived by his children: Karen (William) Ruefle of Rocky Point, NC; Ruth (Dave) Swenson of Fertile, MN; Linda (Gene White) of Playa del Rey, CA; Amy (Steven Reznik) of Tallahassee, FL; Nancy of Euless, TX; and Mark (Rhonda) of Grand Forks, nine grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, and his sister Alma Peterson of Tacoma, WA.  He was predeceased by wife Margaret, an infant brother and his sisters Evelyn Wolfgram, Stella Crichton, Beverly Rabehl, Colleen Erickson, Dona Peterson and Frances Svanes.

Clarence was baptized and confirmed at United Lutheran Church.   A socially distanced private service will be held at United Lutheran Church on Tuesday January 19^th at 2:00 pm and will be live streamed on the church’s Facebook page.  Masks are required.  Burial and Celebration of life will be scheduled in the future.    

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in his name to United Lutheran Church, 324 Chestnut Street, Grand Forks, ND, 58201, or the Grand Forks Foundation for Education & Alumni Network, P.O. Box 5475, Grand Forks, ND, 58206-5475. Arrangements are with Amundson Funeral Home of Grand Forks.