James (Jim) Alfred Peterson, 74, of East Grand Forks, MN, passed away on March 1, 2023 after a hard fought and multi-year battle with pulmonary and cardiac diseases.

James was born on April 21, 1948 to parents Vivian [Black] and Raymond Peterson in Grand Forks, ND. After Jimmy (as he was known then) graduated from the Northwest School of Agriculture in Crookston, MN in 1966 he went on to attend classes at the University of Minnesota, Crookston and finished in 1968.

With fine sales skills, James worked for Crookston Marine selling travel trailers and watercraft, eventually managing their Grand Forks branch. It's there where he met his wife,  Pamela Mueller.  As Jim and Pam started having kids, they moved to the farm where Jim grew up and he began farming with Gorman Johnson Farms. He started to dream of building his own business, eventually starting a firm in the early 90s called Northland Ag in Crookston and Argyle, MN where he sold used ag equipment across the Red River Valley. Jim then went on to specialize in potato seed equipment, teaming up with Better Built Manufacturing and covered Midwest states. Jim continued farming by helping Lind Brothers Farms and serviced potato seed equipment well into his later years.

Jim was a man of few words and of good humor. Always witty and quick to smile, he can be remembered sitting in his shop visiting with a neighbor, his brother and best friend, Bob, or one of his kids, nieces, or nephews. He loved crossword puzzles, solitaire, and a strong cup of coffee. He taught his kids skills they needed in life, even when they didn't want to learn them. He enjoyed fishing and anything with a motor on it, passing on his love of motors to his son and grandkids. His grandkids brought joy and light to his life in the beautiful way that is reserved to the grandparent-grandchild relationship. He loved watching them play, giving them tractor and golf cart rides, and having them sit on his lap.

James was preceded in death by his parents Raymond and Vivian, and his brother Randy.  He is survived by his beloved wife Pam, daughters Kim Winstrom (David) Spence of Denver, CO, Christine Peterson, of Grand Forks, ND, Sarah (Andrew) Post, of Minnetonka, MN, son Jacob (Rebecca) Peterson of Grand Forks, ND, as well as grandkids Connor, Kyle, and Brandon (Spence), Rhyan (Sprehe), Marit, Andrew, Bennett (Post), and Pace and Poppy (Peterson) and one great-grandson, Layton James (Spence), his brothers Bob (Patty), Bill (Becky), and Eric, and many nieces and nephews.

In Lieu of Flowers, memorials are preferred.

FUNERAL :  11:00 AM, Monday, March 6, 2023 at the Bethany Lutheran Church, rural East Grand Forks, MN. Funeral will be live-streamed on Jim's page at www.dandahlfuneralhome.com

VISITATION: One hour prior to the funeral at the Church

INTERMENT :  North Bethany Cemetery, East Grand Forks in the spring.