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Ex-rnayor
Kenneth "
Peterson
killed in'
'carcrash
By Mary Jane Smetanka .
StaffWriter Si
1\\1'1 -1 ~
,(:,
P. Kenneth Peterson, a former .state
representative and mayor of .Mmn~ ,P. Kenneth Peterson,shown in this
apolis from 1957 to 1961, died Ffl- 11979 photo, was the mayor of Min-
day after the car he was riding in was !heapolls from 1957 to 1961.
ill "
struck by another vehicle. .
Peterson, 78, was affectio~ately :Petersonl
\~.
known as "P.K." He was a lIfelong
resident of Minneapolis who built a
career in law and politis~ that ext~nd
ed from his hometown to the Umtep
His political
Nations.
"He tried to help everyone," said his,
'
career began
wife, Jean Ann. "There 'never w~s .a.
kinder, gentier man. He never said a aftert~ar
cross word."
, . Con nned (rom P~
Peterson was a passenger in.a car that·
was being driven by his Wife yester~ As mayor, eterson pursued policies
day morning when it was struck at ,that helped clear slum areas for
the intersection of 42nd St. and Port~ redevelopment, his wife said. He
land Av. S., according to his wife. ¢ampaigned on development of a
The accident occurred about 10:50 new civic center and freeways, and
a.m., and Peterson died shortly there- high standards in the public schools.
after. Peterson refused to make his phone
ihumber private, his wife said, be-
Jean Ann Peterson and two passen- diluse he wanted people to be able to
gers in her car were taken to the call him whenever they wanted.
I;
hospital where two of them were
treated for sprains and broken bones' He unsuccessfully sought a U.S. Sen-
and released. . itte seat in 1960. .
m· .
Minneapolis police sai~ one per~on ~fter his mayoral defeat, Peterson
was taken into custody III connecholj entered business and pursued a pri-
with the accident. vate law practice. From .1966 to
1972, he was chairman of the Minne-
Peterson graduated from t~e U.niv~rc' sota Public Service ComnQ,ission. For
sity of Minnesota with majors III his. two years after that he' was on the
tory and speech, an4 worked as an Minnesota Corrections Authority.
insurance representative before serv- ;He had also served on the Minneapo-
ing in Air Combat Intelligence for the .lis Park and Recreation Board.
~rI . .
U.S. Navy in World War II.
Fj'om 1974 to 1985, he was an ild-
lt was after the war that he began his Itt\inistrative law judge in Minneapo-
political career and met his wife. 'llS, afterward retiring to his home
Jean Ann Peterson was working as a 'n'ear the Mississippi River.
'1;
secretary to Gov. Luther Youngda~1
when she met her future husband, ee and his wife enjoyed golf and
who represented Minneapolis in the travel. He was especially interested in
Legislature from 1947 to 1955. ' :Sweden and his Swedish herita~e,
!a'nd spoke the language, his wife said.
While in the Legislature, Pe.terson \J;hey had been there this past sum-
earned a law degree from what IS now !mer.
lO!
the William Mitchell College of Law.
He was chairman of the state Repub· :Peterson also took an interest in in-
lican party from 1950 to 1953. ternational affairs. He was a member
Of the United Nations Conference on
In 1957 he ran for mayor of Minne- ''frade and Development in 1962,
apolis ~nd won, serving two ter~s ·lInd in the 1950s served as a presi-
before being defeated by Art Naftalm 18ential appointee on the Near East
in 1961. Refugee Commission..
. ---.. ~'esides his wife, survivors include
Peter¥1tcontinued on page 5B'
His daughters, Jane Ann Peterson, of
Eondon, England; Paula K. Peterson,
'of Phoenix, Ariz.; and Carol Jean
Bennett, of Edina, and sisters Evelyn
Johnson and Ruth O. Peterson, both
'Qf Minneapolis.
/.,"
Services are pending.