Richard (Dick) Warthoe Petersen

Richard (Dick) Warthoe Petersen, 96, passed away peacefully of natural causes on September 27th in West Des Moines, Iowa. Born June 4, 1929, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Adler and Ida Petersen, Dick was the third of four siblings: Earl, Lila, and Alice.

At 17, Dick joined the U.S. Navy, serving four years as a medic. After his service, he earned a BS in Accounting from the University of Nebraska. On June 6, 1953, he married Marilyn Middleton, his beloved wife of 48 years. They raised four children—Gail, Karen, Suzanne, and Michael—while moving across New York, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland for Dick’s 14-year career as a salesman with General Electric’s Large Lamp Division.

In 1967, Dick and Marilyn settled in West Des Moines, Iowa, where he later founded SPS Associates, a manufacturers’ representative firm for electronic components. A dedicated family man, Dick was blessed with ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Dick enjoyed golf, woodworking, design projects, and music. Known for his integrity and calm demeanor, he was a respected member of the Lutheran Church of Hope, where he and Marilyn were part of the original congregation. After Marilyn’s passing in 2001, Dick carried on with quiet strength, sustained by his faith.

Dick was predeceased by his wife, Marilyn, his parents, and siblings: Earl, Lila, and Alice. He is survived by his children: Gail, Karen (Anthony), Suzanne (Jeff), and Michael (Kim); grandchildren: Ryan, John, Trevor (Sabrina), Jeff (Hannah), Scott, Samantha, Michael, Adler, Will, and Max; and great-grandchildren: Tonya, Brendon, Adriana, Brielle, Valentino, and Leo. 

Services are to be held at Lutheran Church of Hope on Monday, November 3, 2025, commencing at 11:00 a.m. with luncheon to follow. Livestream link for the service is:  https://wdm.lutheranchurchofhope.org/funeral-livestream.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of the Midwest.

A special thank you to Walnut Ridge Skilled Nursing Staff for their loving care.