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Arnold Bert “Arnie” Peterson, 83, went to be with the Lord February 24, 2019 near his home in rural Itasca County, Minnesota. He has left the earth but is now with his one and only Savior whom he worshiped up until the moment he passed. He knew and spread the Word of God until he took his final breath.

Arnie was born May 30, 1935 in Elk River, Minn., to Bert Iver Peterson and Ella Viola (Medelberg) Peterson. Arnie was a full-blooded Swede with both his mother and his father’s parents coming over from Sweden.

He was a passionate outdoorsman from an early age, starting to trap mink at the age of six by the creek near the family farm. Arnie’s love of trapping continued until the day he passed with many days spent walking the miles of beautiful Northern Minnesota wilderness often joined by his dog Taz and his best friend Dennis Strand. Arnie trapped many furbearers including but not limited to beaver, muskrats, weasels, and bobcats. Arnie was a member of the Minnesota Trappers Association Hall of Fame. He also loved to fish, hunt, pick berries or wild rice or any activity that allowed him to be outside in God’s great creation.

Arnie was known by many nicknames including “Swede”, “Slim”, “Papa” and “Jackpine Savage”. In addition to his passion for the outdoors, Arnie loved Minnesota sports spending hours cheering on the Twins, Timberwolves, Lynx, Wild, and Vikings. He loved any chance he got to talk about sports. Arnie also spent countless hours caring for his 80 acres of land which included many acres of woods, three ponds, and the most well maintained lawn you would find.

He was married to Kathleen Perkins April 5, 1986. Arnie and “Kath” as he referred to her, spent nearly 33 years of marriage together. They enjoyed fishing trips with friends, going on car rides around the Northwoods, and spending time with family in their “Castle in the Woods” as described by his granddaughter Kayla. He was loved by his family and friends who will always remember his infectious laugh, and his smile.

Arnie is survived by his wife Kathy of Northome, MN; daughter Tricia (Ron) Coons of Bemidji; grandchildren Kayla (Shawn) Smith of Crookston, MN, Chelsea (Patrick) Grob of Harding, MN; great grandchildren Peyton, Patrick, and Paisley Grob of Harding, MN; brother-in-laws Bill (Tammy) Perkins of Bloomington, MN, David (Judy) Perkins of Bemidji, MN, Bob (Maria) Perkins of Carrollton, TX, and sister-in-law Patty (Dan) Papin of Woodbury, MN, and close friends Dennis and Tammie Strand of Blackduck, MN

He is preceded in death by his parents, his son Tracy Gross, and his in-laws Isabel Perkins Knudson, Earl Knudson, and Keith Perkins.

More: Mntrappers.org