Ed (Buzz) Petersen passed away Sept 8, 2011, in Mesa, Arizona, at the age of 83 after a brief illness.

Born February 4, 1928, in Bushnell to Elizabeth Marie (Rutledge) and Edward William Petersen, Sr, he was the last of six children in his family.  After graduating from Kimball County High School in 1945, he worked on the family farm north of Bushnell.  He married the love of his life, Marilyn Rae Stuckert, September 8, 1948. They lived and farmed near Bushnell and in 1954 moved to Hayward, California, where he worked for Pacific Gas and Electric and Frieden Calculators where he did tool and die work.

In 1964, they moved their family of three girls back to the family farm in Kimball County and farmed there until his retirement from farming in 2007. Ed was the Farmer of the Year in Kimball County.

In 1977, Marilyn and Buzz bought a motel in Independence, Kansas, where they moved to operate this business. They returned to the farm in 1978 and began spending winters in Arizona in 1981.

Ed married Jean Hiltebrand of Pine Bluffs, on August 31, 1991. They spent spring/summer on the farm north of Bushnell and winters in Mesa.

He loved his family, his farm, raising cattle and horses. He loved to fish and boat in his spare time.  He was a multi-talented individual who grew up during the hard times of the 1930’s and learned to be very resourceful in fixing just about anything.  He will be deeply missed by all who knew him and loved him.

He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Jean; daughters, Carol Milton (Leon) of Pine Bluffs, Cynthia Butler (Philip) of Eagle, and Beth Ratte of Corinth, Texas, and two step-daughters.  He had five surviving grandchildren,  six surviving great-grandchildren, three step great-grandsons, and two step-great-great grandchildren.  He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Willard and Tom; sisters, Elizabeth Petersen, Marjorie Peterson and Ruth KcKinnon; wife and mother of his children, Marilyn Rae; children, Barbara, Ronald and Deanna; great-grandson, Troy Faden.

There will be a graveside memorial at the Kimball Cemetery on October 1 at 11 a.m.