Robert John "Bob" Peterson, 87, Vancouver, Washington and formerly of Minot and Kenmare, died April 2, 2015 in a Vancouver adult foster care home.
Bob was born on June 18, 1927 in Kenmare, ND to Peter and Clara (Anderson) Peterson. He was reared and educated in Kenmare, ND and worked on the Harold Gissel farm throughout high school.
He enlisted in the US Army in March of 1946, and served as a mechanic with the 505th Quartermaster Truck Company's last mounted mule unit in Fort Riley, Kansas. He was honorably discharged on April 13, 1947.
He returned to North Dakota and gained employment with the Great Northern Railroad. Bob worked his way through the ranks of the Great Northern, later the Burlington Northern Railroad, for the next 35 years, including numerous years at Minot's GavinYard, eventually serving as assistant general car foreman until his Spokane retirement in 1982.
Robert John was united in marriage to Emma Norton on November 3, 1962 at Christ Lutheran Church in Minot. They made their homes in Minot, ND and Spokane, WA prior to retiring in Vancouver, WA.
He enjoyed gardening, landscaping, and remodeling homes. Bob was a member of the American Legion and the Carmen's Union of America. He will be missed by all who shared his life.
Bob is survived by his stepdaughter, Sandra Norton Sande, Bismarck, ND; son: Dwight Peterson, Vancouver, WA; grandchildren: Brent (Justine Kapperud) Sande, Gillette, WY, and Alesha (Keith) Dockter, Bismarck, ND; great grandchildren: Callie and Coy Dockter, Bismarck, ND; sisters: Florence Thompson, Seattle, WA, Alice Kjos, Kenmare, ND, Marlise (Paul) Wirtz, Minot, ND; sisters-in-law Goldie Stewart, Orofino, ID, Grace Hadden, Fresno, CA, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Robert John was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Emma Peterson, stepson Monte Norton, son-in-law Dean Sande, sisters, Freda Melland, Minnie Link, Gloria Judd, and brothers, Sam and Christian Peterson, sisters-in-law Mabel Schule Zewick and Violet Peterson; brothers-in-law Leman Stewart, William Hadden, Michael Zewick, Gil Melland, Alvin Link, Jaye Thompson, Art Kjos, and Tom Judd.

Celebration of the Life of Robert John Peterson: Friday, May 15, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. in the Thomas Family Funeral Home Chapel, Minot, ND
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, ND
Visitation: Thursday, May 14, 2015 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot, ND.
Memorials are preferred to the Minot Railroad Museum or to the donor's choice.