Obit: Andrew Peterson

Boulder City News Staff

Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009 | midnight

Andrew Roy Peterson, 89, of Boulder City died Aug. 13. He was born April 17, 1920, in Anoka County, Minn., to Fred and Gina Peterson.

He was raised on the family farm and completed high school in Red Wing, Minn., in the class of 1938. He enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1943 and flew 51 B-24 combat missions in the European theater in 1944, including the oil fields of Ploesti, Romania.

His next assignment was in the USA Air Transport Command, from which he was discharged in 1947. Peterson was recalled from the Air Force Reserves for two years of stateside duty during the Korean War, flying B-36 reconnaissance.

Peterson was a professional photographer until hired as a co-pilot for PSA. In 1955 he moved his family to Las Vegas to fly for Bonanza Air Lines. He retired after 21 years as a DC-9 Captain.

He was a 13-year resident of Boulder City, where he was an active volunteer in the Senior Center of Boulder City and Community Club. He was a charter member of the VFW Post in Boulder City.

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Sharon Peterson of Boulder City; daughters, Nancy Vetrano of Sacramento, Calif., and Sandra Bacon of Henderson; son Drew Peterson and wife Amy of Aztec, N.M.; grandchildren, Gina Vetrano and Joseph Vetrano of Sacramento, Calif.; and sister-in-law, Florence Peterson of Minnesota.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Arvid, Hjalmer, George, Floyd, and Edgar; sister, Gerda Borgen; and first wife, Bess (Larsen) Peterson, mother of his 3 children.

A memorial service was held at Aug. 19 at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, followed by a luncheon at Bethany Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to the charity of the giver's choice.

Boulder City Family Mortuary handled the arrangements.