Ronald A. Peterson passed away December 28, 2014 surrounded by family.
Born in Duluth, MN on January 11, 1931 to Albin and Gretchen Peterson, owners of Lester Park Greenhouse.Upon high school graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he was stationed in Southeast Asia.Returning from military service, he received a bachelors' degree from University of Minnesota Duluth.Continuing his education at Southern Illinois University earning a masters degree.Then accepted into a doctoral program receiving a PhD. In philosophy/psychology from University of Missouri.
He and his former wife Leilla Peterson Brooks came to AZ State Teachers' College (now NAU) in 1962
where he wrote the grant for the Institute of Human Development, which is still functioning today.He was also instrumental in setting up several locations of the Guidance Center in Northern Arizona.

He moved to the Phoenix area in 1970 where he worked in the behavioral health community, including establishing halfway homes for troubled youths.

Relocating to Payson, AZ in 1995 he worked in private practice.Retirement brought him back to Flagstaff in 2012.
He is survived by daughter Lori McElfresh, sons Timothy (Sue) and Eric (Pamela) Peterson, six grandchildren and his sister Marilyn Solem.
A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on SundayJanuary 04, 2015 at Lozano's Flagstaff Mortuary, Flagstaff, AZ. Arrangements are by Lozano's Flagstaff Mortuary.wwwFlagstaff Mortuary .com