George Peters

George L. Peters age 89 of Savage, MN, formerly of Detroit Lakes, MN died July 2, 2023 at Rivers of Life Assisted Living in Savage, MN.

George Leslie Peters was born on April 17, 1934 in Boston, MA to William and Catherine Graham Peters. George attended Whitman, MA public schools. At a very young age he enlisted in the United States Army. Following basic training he completed Airborne Training and then Ranger School and was then shipped overseas to Korea. George was wounded in the Korean War and evacuated to Japan. He later served four tours in the Vietnam War where he again was wounded several times. George took great pride in that his twenty-four plus years of active Army service was all spent in the Infantry or Special Forces and Airborne units. During the Vietnam War George received a battlefield commission to Captain. George held the honor of being one of the highest decorated veterans in Becker County.

After retiring from the Army as a Command Sergeant Major E-9 in 1976, George farmed in Motley, MN., and was employed by Rural MN CEP, where he was the Director of Operations. George and Jan moved to Detroit Lakes in 1984. He retired from Rural MN CEP in 1994.

George was a very strong advocate for veterans and volunteered for many causes and activities in his community. He was a board member of several different organizations and a longtime member of Emmanuel Community Advisory Board. George advocated for and dearly loved Emmanuel Community and their dedicated staff.

George was a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, El Zagel Shrine Temple, Detroit Lakes Shrine Color Guard, Mount Tabor Masonic Lodge, Chapter #31 Disabled Veterans, Lloyd Beck chapter #745 Military Order of the Purple Heart, D.L. Eagles, and was an instructor for the AARP driver safety program for ten years.

George was a lifelong learner. He pursued a wide variety of interests including gardening, outdoor activities, hunting, and in his younger years parachuting and stock car driving. He was always up to a dare and felt he had nine lives to live and wanted to live them all.

George was preceded in death by his wife Janet Mickelberg Peters; one son, George L. Peters Jr.; three brothers; one sister, Mary Peters and his parents.

He is survived by two daughters, Katherine Getchell, Donna Belter; one son Timothy Peters; ten grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday July 11, 2023; 11:00 a.m. at the West-Kjos Funeral Home in Detroit Lakes, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. Interment will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Detroit Lakes, MN.