Mahlon O. Petersen

Unknown
  • Military specialty: Unknown
  • Awards: Unknown

b. 4 Dec 1898; d. 28 Nov 1945. Mahlon Orville Peterson or “Doc” as he was commonly known, was raised in the Heron Lake, MN area by his parents, Ole and Anna Mary (Charlson) Petersen. He graduated from Heron Lake High School and then attended the Chicago College of Dental Surgery.

Mahlon enlisted in the U.S. Army during WWI while he was a student at the Chicago College, but he saw no active service as he was  in only a short time before the armistice was signed.  He was discharged on 14 December 1918.

He returned to the Chicago College, and received his Doctor’s Degree in Dentistry at the Chicago College of Dental Surgery in 1924.  He practiced in Heron Lake and Foley, MN before opening an office in Jeffers, MN.  On 23 Jul 1931, he married Marie Helen Staudenbaur; they had one daughter.

Doc Petersen was very much involved with the community as well as the Jeffers Methodist Church, Boy Scouts, Commercial Club, and the American Legion. He also was a member of several professional dental organizations.  His hobbies were hunting, fishing and numismatics as well as being an enthusiastic supporter of the town and school athletic programs.

He died at home from a heart attack and was buried at the Jeffers Cemetery, Jeffers, MN.

  • Obituary: Yes