HOWARD RAND PETERSEN
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- HOWARD RAND PETERSEN
HOWARD RAND PETERSEN
Howard Rand Petersen “Rand,” passed away in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on March 15, 2023. Rand was born in Harlan, Iowa, on February 5, 1929, to Eunice Anderson Petersen and Wilmer Petersen. He graduated from Harlan High School in 1947 and the State University Iowa (SUI) in 1951. While attending SUI he met and married Mary Louise Anneberg. Rand worked for Brenton banks before joining Harlan’s Shelby County State Bank (SCSB) in 1958 where he was president for more than 40 years.
Rand spent years on the Iowa Republican Central Committee where he convinced a young Robert D. Ray to run for governor. He was active in the Iowa Banker’s Association, serving as president while shepherding Shazam-the nation’s first integrated POS banking system.
He was a principal driving force behind numerous hospital and civic organizations in Harlan. He also generously supported many Iowa organizations among them the Danish Immigrant Museum, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, and the University of Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother. He leaves behind his wife of more than 72 years, Mary Louise Petersen; four children, Margaret Lynn Kindem, Allen Rand Petersen, Katherine Ann Linder (David) and Steven Reed Petersen; ten grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be directed to the University of Iowa’s 1stGen@Iowa initiative or to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation’s Little Sioux Scout Ranch.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 – 11:00 AM on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan, Iowa. Funeral Service will be held following the visitation, starting at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan, Iowa. Following the Funeral Service, a burial will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery in Kirkman, Iowa.
Pauley Jones Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.