Allen Peterson, 51, of Tucson, AZ, formerly of Newfolden, MN died in a plane crash in Ogallala, NE, Thursday, June 11, 2009. He had been visiting his family in Minnesota, and was piloting his aircraft home to Arizona.

Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at Evangelical Free Church, Newfolden, MN with Reverend Gary Barrett officiating. Burial will be at Folden Cemetery, rural Newfolden, MN.

Visitation will be 5 " 8 PM, Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at Johnson Funeral Service, Thief River Falls, MN with a 7 PM prayer service and for one hour prior to the service at the church, Wednesday.

Allen Lee Peterson was born November 24, 1957 in Thief River Falls, MN, the son of Howard Nelmer and Donna Margie (Hanson) Peterson. The family lived near Euclid, MN and Allen attended school and graduated from Crookston High School in 1975.

He served in the United States Air Force ffrom 1978-1982 and was a member of the Civil Air Patrol. While in the Air Force, he worked part time for Arizona Highway Patrol. That is when he developed a love for law enforcement. After serving his country honorably, Allen returned to Minnesota and attended the law enforcement program at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls, MN. He worked for the Roseau County Sheriffs Department in 1982.

On April 28, 1985, Allen was hired by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. After completing academy training, Allen was assigned as a Highway Patrol officer in Willcox, AZ. He remained in the Willcox area until 1992, when he was re-assigned to a highway patrol squad in Tucson, AZ. In 1994, after completing the required training, Allen was assigned as a motorcycle officer in the Tucson area. He remained in this assignment until 2000, when he transferred back onto a highway patrol road squad. In 2002, Allen transferred to the DPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau and became a motor vehicle inspector in the Tucson area. In January of 2009, he transferred back to the Highway Patrol Bureau and served exceptionally with another highway patrol squad.

Allen enjoyed flying and became interested in operating the ham radio, which he still enjoyed today. He participated in mountain hiking and was quite adventurous. He loved to get out in the open air and ride his motorcycle. He was a member of the Civil Air Patrol. He had a love for gadgets and computers and liked buying the newest and latest things. While Allen was home these past two weeks, he had fixed and got running an old John Deere tractor that had been sitting since his fathers death.

He is survived by mother, Donna Peterson, Newfolden, MN; sister, Linda Peterson, Hallock, MN and brother, Gary Peterson, St. Paul, MN.

Allen is preceded in death by father, Howard Peterson on March 12, 2006.

ORGANIST: Beverly Lindstrom
SOLOIST: Myles & Lowell Hogberg
SELECTIONS: Day By Day, Children Of The Heavenly Father
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: Precious Lord, Take My Hand, Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
CASKETBEARERS: Floyd Hanson, Bob Dahl, Larry Bjorsness, Myles Hogberg, Lowell Hogberg, Mike Adamek
HONORARY CASKETBEARERS: All of his fellow officers and friends in Arizona
MILITARY HONORS: Minnesota & Arizona Law Enforcement Officers