James Anthony “Jim” Peterson of Hill City was born June 26, 1959, in Woonsocket, S.D., to Darwin and Darlene (Goergen) Peterson.
He graduated from Castlewood High School and attended South Dakota State University (SDSU) in Brookings, S.D., where he met his wife, Joy Alexander. Jim and Joy were united in marriage July 2, 1988, in Mitchell, S.D., and had two sons: AJ and Mitchell.
Jim was employed fulltime by the South Dakota Army National Guard for the majority of his career, retiring in March 2015. Jim began his career as an enlisted Private and through dedication and commitment to his country proceeded to earn the commissioned rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Hunting was a passion of Jim’s and he loved spending time with friends and family hunting pheasants near his hometown. Jim was committed to community service and was proud to be a part of the Hill City Volunteer Fire Department and the Hill City Fire District, logging countless hours fighting forest fires. He served on the Hill City planning and zoning board and was active in St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. Jim was an avid golfer, a racquetball player and a member of a pool league since he was a freshman in college.
Jim and Joy have owned the Chute Rooster in Hill City for six years and customers and employees enjoyed seeing Jim’s smiling face. As a season ticket- holder for the Rush, Jim considered every fellow fan his friend and rarely missed a game.
Jim, 56, died Friday, Aug. 7, 2015, as a result of an accident.
He is survived by his wife, Joy of Hill City; sons, AJ and Mitchell, Hill City; father, Darwin Peterson, Alexandria, S.D.; sisters Theresa (Tom) Culver, Avon, S.D., Mary (Duane) Letcher, Alexandria, S.D.; brother, Dan, Sioux Falls; brother-in-law, Victor (Sherryl) Alexander, Hill City; sisters-in-law, Debora (Kevin) Carlson, Peoria, Ariz., Sheila (Leon) Gillespie, Hill City; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother.
In honor of Jim, memorials may be made to the Hill City Volunteer Fire Department and Hill City Community Park Project.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, Aug. 13, from 5-7 p.m., with a wake service at 7 p.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Hill City. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Friday at the Hill City High School theater.