Julius Newton Peterson

Past Commissioner Dies

Services for Julius Newton Peterson were held on Tuesday afternoon at the Peet Mortuary Chapel with the Rev. Gary Burdick officiating. Burial with Masonic Graveside rites followed at the Lusk Cemetery.

Peterson died Saturday afternoon at his ranch north of Lance Creek.

He was born Dec. 7, 1911 at Turin, Iowa, the third son of Peter E. and Flossie Mae (Bristow) Peterson. At the age of seven the family moved to Chapman, Wyoming a community near the Mule Creek Oilfield.

He attended elementary school at Chapman and Burdock, South Dakota, where they moved when he was 14. After a bout with Bute's disease in the spring he was 14, he became the first member of his immediate family to graduate from high school in 1931 from Edgemont, South Dakota.

He worked at a variety of jobs as a young man; cowboy, day hand, oilfield worker, and a section worker for the railroad. While he was dancing with an area girl one evening, he teasingly asked her, "Why don't you marry me and take care of me in my old age?" In the same teasing vein she agreed.

Eventually he went to work for her father. She always said on their first date she thought him so polite when he opened the door on the off-driver side, and helped her into the car. Her feelings changed abruptly however, when he wired her door shut. Though he assured her that the door had a broken latch, she always thought his excuse sounded a little suspicious. On Sept. 30, 1941, he made Mary Rumney his bride.

They made their first home in the Mule Creek, oilfield where Julius was employed. The eldest son, Paul Edward was born in 1942 while they lived there, but before he was a year old, they moved to a ranch on Dogie Creek north of Lance Creek where they spent the remainder of their lives. Their two younger sons, Clyde Julius and Stephen Lee, were born in 1944 and 1945 respectively.

Peterson was an active Mason and was a 4-H leader for many years. He served Niobrara County as a commissioner for ten years. He was a member and current treasurer of the Lance Creek Community Church. He was engaged in ranching until his death at home on Oct. 29.

Peterson died while in the corral working with cows, which was his favorite pastime.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, his parents, seven brothers and three sisters.

Survivors include three sons; Paul of Tigard, Oregon, Clyde and Steve, both of Lance Creek; eight grandchildren; one brother, Glen Peterson of Edgemont, South Dakota; one sister, Sylvia Hammell of the Cheyenne River community and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be given to the Lance Creek Community Church or the American Heart Association.

Images & Attachments

Related/Linked Records