Mark R. Peterson

Mark R. Peterson, age 70, of Yankton, South Dakota, died peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Monday, October 5, 2026.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM, on Friday, October 9, 2026 at First United Methodist Church in Yankton with Reverend Valerie Hummel-LaBounty officiating. Burial will be at the Yankton City Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, on Thursday, October 8 at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton and a prayer service will be held at 7:00 PM.

Mark was born March 19, 1956 in Yankton, South Dakota to Robert D. and Ruth G. (Skorepa) Peterson. He grew up in Yankton, graduated from Yankton High School and then attended Yankton College. He loved ranching and always worked with his dad at their third generation family farm. They loved raising unique animals including buffalo and Scottish Highlanders. A pair of cougars were also known to be on site.

Mark met Sharlotte White when she was a senior in high school and they were married in 1981 at the First United Methodist Church in Yankton. Shar and Mark loved to travel and made many trips to Florida to visit Mark’s family there. They also enjoyed going to the Black Hills for the buffalo round up. They loved the time with their friends and many a Friday night was spent at Bogner’s, the Quarry, or their favorite hangout, Charlie’s Pizza.

Mark is survived by his wife of 45 years, Shar Peterson of Yankton; his sister, Ricki Hunt of DeLand, FL; nieces, nephew, great nieces and great nephews: Tracey Smith and her son, Jordan (Jackie) Wade of Apex, NC and their children, Dominic, Jaxon, and Nathan; Sara Aguayo of Daytona Beach, FL and her son and daughter, Dylan and Arianna of Brooklyn, NY; Scott (Marijke) Smith of DeLand, FL; Katie Smith and her son, Landon of Deltona, FL.

Mark was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, the Avera Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society for prostate cancer research, or For The Love of Animals.