Merlin Duane "Pete" Peterson, 94, Minneapolis, was born June 3, 1931, in Tescott, to Christian Oswald and Nora Rebecca (Werries) Peterson. He died July 14, 2025, in Salina surrounded by family.

Pete served in the Air Force from 1951-1953 during the Korean War. He and Eva Mae Bradbury were married on September 4, 1954, in Ada. He worked for the United States Postal Service as a rural mail carrier and at Eldorado Motor Corporation.

Pete was passionate about cars and flying airplanes. A highlight from later years in life was his 90th birthday lunch/celebration/flight at Stearman Field in Benton.

Pete was preceded in death his parents; wife, Eva; two brothers, Lloyd and Melburn; and an infant sister.

He is survived by three daughters, Lu Ann Stewart and husband, Greg, Jacque Havice and husband, George, and Lisa Parker; 11 grandchildren, Kimberley (Chad) Abresch, Stephanie (Andrew) Pedersen, Preston (Carissa) Stewart, Sierra Stewart, Madeleine Stewart (Robert Duff), Jodi (Karl) DeArmond, Jenny (Kyle) Weiser, Jessica (Taylor) Hess, Lindsey (Seth) Rohde, Alex Parker, and Kaleigh (Devin) Knox; 18 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Graveside services with military honors will be at 10:00 A.M., Monday, July 21, at Highland Cemetery, Minneapolis. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis or Gentiva Hospice of Salina and may be left in care of Wilson Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 166, Minneapolis, KS 67467.