Carl “Sonny” Peterson, 62 year old resident of Swanville, MN passed away Saturday, August 31, 2019 at the Long Prairie Hospital in Long Prairie, MN. A funeral service will be held 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Swanville, MN with Rev. Kevin Zellers officiating. Burial will take place in St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery in Swanville, MN. A visitation will be held from 4-7 P.M. on Friday and from 9:30-10:30 A.M. on Saturday all at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Swanville, MN. There will be a Celebration of Life Luncheon following the services on Saturday at 12:00 P.M. at the Sobieski Community Center in Sobieski, MN.
Sonny (Carl) Peterson was born on July 18, 1957 in Long Prairie Minnesota to the parents of Carl and Ellen Peterson. He lived most of his life in Swanville where he enjoyed spending time supporting the community through various ways including being a devoted member of the Swanville Lions club.
Sonny worked in a variety of jobs before finding what he enjoyed most, trucking. In 1987, together with Sandy, they founded “Sonny Peterson Trucking”. The business started with the two of them, 1 truck and Brother Jody in the shop. The business eventually grew to as many as 30 semi-trucks hauling goods across the US. In his 32 years in business, it wasn’t uncommon for Sonny to take on family and friends to give them an opportunity in which he trained them up to be as successful as he was. Sonny’s dedication to Sonny Peterson Trucking kept him working up until just a few days before he left us.
Sonny’s hobbies are almost too many to list. He enjoyed anything that went fast. He spent his time away from the shop riding Harley Davidsons, flying airplanes, snowmobiling, and golfing. Whatever it was that Sonny was up to it included a group of family (his children), friends and good music. On Sunday afternoons he often hosted afternoon cookouts where he and Cousin Fred spent time cooking for the gang. He made sure to make time for his children Michelle and CR as well as his precious grandchildren: Milo, Ellen and Louie. There is nothing he wouldn’t do for them. Sonny passed away peacefully while listening to music at Long Prairie Hospital where he was surrounded by his best Friend Suzie, his children, brother and sister, nieces and nephew and long-time friend and business partner Sandy. Words cannot express how much he will be missed. Please join us in celebrating his life as that is how Sonny would have wanted it. Sonny, you have left us too soon but you left an admiral legacy. We love you.
Sonny is survived by children, Michelle (Lonny) Hutchins of Swanville, MN and Carl “C.R.” Peterson of Swanville, MN; siblings, Jody (Carol) Peterson of Swanville, MN and Holly (Bram) Sanchez of New Orleans, LA; girlfriend, Susan Kiley of Sobieski, MN and grandchildren, Milo, Elen, and Louis Hutchins.
Sonny was preceded in death by parents, Carl and Ellen Peterson and brother, Timothy Peterson.
Funeral arrangements are with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Swanville, MN.