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Roddy Lyn Petersen was born March 30, 1944 in Stratton, Nebraska, to the late Earl and Josephine (McNiece) Petersen. He passed away July 12, 2025 in Benkelman, Nebraska.
Roddy grew up on the family farm and graduated from Stratton High School in 1963. He entered the Navy on July 15, 1963, and received his Honorable Discharge on July 15, 1967.
He worked for General Telephone in Long Beach, California 1967-1972.
He returned to Nebraska and worked at Miller Manufacturing for a short time. In 1977 he moved to Lexington, Nebraska. He worked for Valley Sales Company which made livestock equipment.
On November 10, 1978, he married Rebecca Manning and they made their home in Lexington, NE where they raised their children. In 1989 when Valley Sales closed, Roddy went to work at Nebraska Plastics in Cozad, Nebraska. In 1993, they moved to Benkelman, where he managed Frenchman Valley Elevator until retiring in November of 2006.
Roddy was preceded in death by his parents, sister Joyce Blake, brothers Merwin Petersen and Roland Petersen, daughter-in-law Tricia Petersen and mother-in-law Vada Manning.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Rebecca, son Danny (Michelle) Petersen of Oxford, NE, daughter Tabitha Guernsey (Steve Guernsey) of Benkelman, NE, grandchildren; Jessica (Dylan) Power, Colton (Julian) Guernsey, Daniel (Kali) Petersen, Elizabeth Petersen, and great grandchildren; Della Power, Ledger Petersen, and Arlo Petersen. His sister, Beverly (Doug) Eller of Lakewood, CO and his father-in-law, Harold Manning of Stratton, NE.
A graveside inurnment service with military honors has been scheduled at Rose Hill Cemetery, Stratton, NE at 10:00 A.M. (MT) Friday, July 18, 2025.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Dundy County Hospital Respiratory Therapy Dept.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
205 Buffalo St, Benkelman, NE 69021
Memories and condolences can be left on the obituary at the funeral home website.
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