Harold ‘Hal’ Peterson passed away at his home under the care of his family and hospice on August 13, 2026. He was 86 years old.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, August 20 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 502 N 4th St, Bismarck. To view the church livestream, click the link provided~ Hal. The family will greet guests from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 19, at Eastgate Funeral Service, 3117 E Century Ave, Bismarck. A masonic service will begin at 6 p.m., all are welcome. Burial will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

Hal was a Christmas baby, born to Harold and Caroline (Bentz) Peterson on December 25, 1939. He attended Dickinson Public Schools through 10th grade, when his family moved to Bismarck. He graduated from Bismarck High School in 1958. Never wanting to miss a party, he attended class reunions in both Dickinson and Bismarck.

Hal served in the North Dakota Army National Guard and Army Reserve from March 1957 to February 1965. He was a life member of AMVETS and a 34-year member of the American Legion.

Hal married Sheila (Miedema) on October 18, 1980. She was the love of his life. Together, they enjoyed years of traveling throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Hawaii and the Caribbean. They loved cruise ships, boating on the Missouri River, vacationing at lakes in northern Minnesota with their family, and heading to Pensacola Beach in the winters. He was an avid seashell collector, and they always had to buy an extra suitcase to get them home.

Hal was a salesman his entire life, beginning with selling garden seeds and newspapers as a kid. He spent many years in the car business, first in sales and then as General Sales Manager and part owner of Tierney Chevrolet. He met his wife, Sheila, when he sold her a car. Sheila always said he was her rebate. After leaving the car business, he began his more than 30-year career selling real estate.

Hal was an avid hunter and fisherman. Over the years, he was an active member and fundraiser for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever. He was an excellent marksman and had his own trap shooting team, “Hal’s Blazers,” at the Capital City Gun Club.

Being a Shriner was a highlight of Hal’s life. He was a member of Bismarck Masonic Lodge 5, El Zagal Shrine and the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. He belonged to various Shrine units, including the Royal Order of the Jesters, Plainsmen, Saidins and the Missouri Slope Shrine Club, but his favorite was the Shrine Circus. He loved the kids, animals, rides, coloring books, camaraderie and so much more. Hal started the bike giveaways with one bike given away at the circus. It has now grown to 20 bikes being given away at each of the five circus performances.

Hal belonged to the Bismarck-Mandan Elks Lodge for 61 years and the Fraternal Order of Eagles for 35 years. He had belonged to Trinity Lutheran Church since he was in high school.

Hal loved little kids and animals. He had a supply of dog treats for all the neighborhood dogs and knew each of their favorites. It was not unusual for neighborhood dogs to escape to Hal’s for fun and treats. He always had goodies for the neighborhood kids passing by, too.

Hal enjoyed cooking, especially Norwegian and German dishes. Think lutefisk and sausage. He always said he wanted lutefisk served at his funeral. We’re in luck that it is out of season right now.

Hal dearly loved his family and was so proud of them. He always told them how much he loved them. As his health began to fail and he became more dependent on Sheila, he said, “Thank you and I love you” whenever she assisted him. He always told family and friends to “enjoy life.”

Hal is survived by his wife, Sheila, Bismarck; daughter Lisa (Sean) Lund, Bismarck; grandson Dylan (Kenzie Reisenauer) Lund and great-grandson Kaelo Lund, Mandan. It was Hal’s goal to live long enough to meet little Kaelo, and he succeeded.

Hal is also survived by his stepdaughter, Debi (Vern) Hall of Kodiak, Alaska, and her children and grandchildren; his sister, Bernice Reinthaler of Clinton, Ill.; sister-in-law, Gwynne Peterson of Granger, Ind.; and his many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He is also survived by Sheila’s sisters, Diane Peterson, Santa Fe, N.M., and LaRae Miedema, Bismarck, and their children.

Hal was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Roger Peterson; and brother-in-law, Bill Reinthaler.

If wishing to send a memorial, Hal’s favorites include the Scottish Rite Speech Therapy Center for Children, 1009 Basin Ave., Bismarck, ND 58504; the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery Foundation, 4606 Highway 1806, Mandan, ND 58554; or the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, 1611 E. Century Ave., Suite 100, Bismarck, ND 58503.