Walter E. "Pete" Peters , 59, Minot and formerly of Walton, Kansas; died on Friday, January 1st , 2010 in Rochester, Minnesota, at St. Mary's Hospital after a three year battle with lung cancer. During this time he was cared for by his wife, Kara Lynn and youngest daughter Jennifer.

Walter was born on April 27, 1950 in Goessel, Kansas to Arthur and Anna (Dyck) Peters. He graduated from Newton High School in Kansas. Walter was a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War having received both the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

He was a wonderful husband to Kara Lynn (Flory) for thirty-three years and a great father to three daughters: Melissa, Stephanie, and Jennifer and three dogs: Abigail, ChiChi, and Maggie. In his spare time he enjoyed taking his family camping, fishing, and to the races.

Walter was self-employed as a beekeeper, something he loved to do. He started when he was just a boy in Kansas. As a young adult, he established his own business in Minot. Through his job he employed many people who became more like family than employees. They all shared his love for his bees, hard work, and the outdoors. He and his family traveled with his bees to Livingston, TX, and Bakersfield, CA.

Walter was a member of a local support group where he made many friends. He would meet with those friends at a local truck stop for coffee and talk for hours. This group helped Walter form a relationship with God. He had a love for God that gave him peace in his passing.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Arthur and Anna Peters of Newton, Kansas, and his uncle Herman Peters of Walton, Kansas.

He is survived by his loving wife Kara Lynn (Flory) Peters of Minot, ND; daughters Melissa (Shahen) Karimian and Stephanie (Jandy) Phillips both of Livingston, TX, Jennifer Peters (fianc: Tom Malmend) of Minot, ND; sister: Kathleen (Shingo) Kajinami of McPherson, KS; nephew Clinton Kajinami of Kansas City, KS; aunt Christine Peters of Walton, KS; cousins, Dave Kasitz and John (Ruth) Peters of Walton, KS; along with many more relatives in the Walton-Newton, KS, area. He also had many relatives throughout Canada.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Sarah and Phil Martinson for helping care for their dogs and personal needs while "Pete" and his family spent the past two months in Rochester, Minnesota.

Funeral service: Friday, January 8, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. in the Southside Church of the Nazarene, Minot.
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.
Visitation: Thursday from 2:00 - 7:00 pm in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to Trinity Hospice or to the Southside Church of the Nazarene.