Pete attended Lincoln Northeast Hight School where his oratory and reasoning skills were first honed on the debate team. He was a proud graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University and a member of Phi Kappa Tau. He shared many stories of his days as a Phi Tau, but only after the statute of limitations had clearly passed! His education continued at the Nebraska College of Law where he established himself as a hard-working, intellectually curious future attorney. Along with his partner, Richard Shugrue, he placed second in the United States Moot Court Competition and may or may not have tried to pass himself off as Russell Stover at a candy maker’s convention. His excellence in law school earned him a position in the Order of the Coif in 1962.
Pete married high school girlfriend, Kathy Read in 1959. Their son Tom was born in 1961 and was followed by their daughter Nancy in 1963. The young family established their home in Lincoln, where he lived for the rest of his life. After serving as an associate at Nelson and Harding, he partnered with Duane Acklie to form Acklie and Peterson. When Duane left to take the helm at Crete Carrier, Pete started his own firm and built his reputation as a lawyer’s lawyer. In 1990, Duane lured him away from private practice and Pete became Vice President and General Counsel of Duncan Aviation (1990-2002) and Vice President and General Counsel of Crete Carrier Corporation (1990-2017).
After his marriage to Kathy ended, he married Linda Benson in 1987 and the two created a blended and extended family. Pete and Linda enjoyed traveling the world but also camping – first in their little pop-up camper, and later in a ridiculously large RV that allowed many sticky grandchildren to accompany them.
He acknowledged the impact his time at Wesleyan University had upon him by serving as President of the school’s Alumni Association. In addition, he completed a nine-year term on Wesleyan’s Board of Governors -including three years as Board Chair.
He was a social justice warrior in word and deed. As an active member in Nebraskans for Peace, he traveled to Nicaragua to support the Sandinistas in their opposition to the ring-wing Contras. He was a Co-founder of the Gathering Place, believing in the power of community and the obligation of humanity to lift each other up. He was a faithful member of First Plymouth Congregational Church. He consumed history books and played Wordle with the critical thinking skills of a word-Ninja.
He did the New York Times Crossword in pen, was unbeatable in Scrabble, the reigning Billiards Champion at the Grand Lodge, a revered mentor and role model in the legal community, a generous philanthropist, proud and beloved father to 5, grandfather to 13 and great-grandfather to 4.
He is preceded in death by Linda, his brother Don, and parents. He is survived by his children Tom Peterson (Stephanie), Nancy Peterson (Mark Watermeier); step-children Mike Case (Lori), Drew Case and Steven Case; his sister Dorothy Peterson Vaughn (Bill), and sister-in-law Erwina Hutchinson Peterson.
We will honor his memory by gathering at First Plymouth Congregational Church, 2000 D Street on Monday, November 10, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. Memorials are suggested to Community Action’s Gathering Place, 210 O St., Lincoln, NE 68508. www.communityactionatwork.org.
Link to Service Recording: