Oren A. Peterson

Oren A. Peterson

Oren A. Peterson passed away on Monday, November 15, 2021. Four days prior, he had been airlifted to ICU at Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas, Nevada with complications brought on by Covid-19. Oren was born February 7, 1933, in the Blackhoff Township, Carlton County, Minnesota to Otto and Meryle Peterson. At two years old, he was one of the youngest children to arrive in the Alaska Territory with the Colonists of 1935.

He served a tour in the US Army at Fort Richardson Army Base in Anchorage before marrying Carla Jo Driggars in 1957. She preceded him in death October 1, 2020. They were married for 63 years and had five children.

An accomplished Master Machinist under the tutelage of some great Alaskan teachers: his father-in-law, Carlos Driggars, John Eppler, and Jack Whitmore, Oren moving on to work as a Shop Foreman on the “Slope” of the Alaskan Pipeline for 25 years. After retirement, he returned to Superior Machine & Welding in Anchorage as a salesman.

Tired of shoveling snow, Oren moved his family to Battle Ground, Washington in 1976, returning to Alaska in 2001, to escape the rain. Oren and Carla retired to Pahrump, Nevada in 2011 and found refuge in warmer weather. With frugal determination, he enjoyed telling his children that he was at the casino spending their inheritance.

He is survived by brother, Jay Peterson (Esther) and sister, Donna Toci (Jim), both of Alaska. Surviving children include Michelle Wagner (Ken) of Alaska, Debbie Cardon (Lon) of California, Don Peterson (Jami) of Texas, and Meredith Colter of Washington. Grandchildren include William, Alisha, Scott, Tiffany, Amanda, and Casey, as well as five great-grandchildren. He will be sorely missed by family and friends.