Lawrence J. Peterson, 79, resident of Ogema, MN, died Tuesday, February 7, 2012, at his winter residence in Detroit Lakes.

Lawrence "Larry" John Peterson Jr. was born August 14, 1932, in Ada, MN, to Lawrence "LJ" Sr. and Thea (Christiansen) Peterson. He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Ada. He was raised and educated in Ada, graduating from Ada High School in 1950. During his senior year he went to the state tournament as a tennis player for Ada High School. He furthered his education attending college at St. Olaf in Northfield, MN graduating with his teaching degree in 1954. On June 18, 1957, Larry enlisted with United States Army, proudly serving his country overseas in Germany. Larry was a trumpet player in the Army Band. He was honorably discharged on June 17, 1959.

In 1963, Larry earned his Masters Degree in music from the University of North Dakota. He taught music at several high schools in northwest Minnesota. Larry loved tennis, music and fishing. Larry would help out as a tennis coach on the high school tennis team in Waubun and Mahnomen, MN, and he continued to re-string tennis rackets for friends. He spent summers at his home on Strawberry Lake, where he would write music arrangements for piano.
For a numbers of years, he spent winters in Myrtle Beach, SC. There he often played his keyboard for friends' enjoyment. In the last few months of his life, he played the piano for the enjoyment of residents in his apartment complex in Detroit Lakes.

Survivors are cousins on his mother's and father's sides of his family, and many friends and neighbors.

Memorial service: 11:00 AM, Thursday, May 17, 2012, in Grace Lutheran Church, Ada, MN.

Visitation: A gathering of friends and family will be held one hour prior to services at the church.

Burial: Ada City Cemetery.