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Submitted: 4/21/24 • Approved: 4/22/24 • Last Updated: 4/25/24 • R275830-G275830-S3
Martin Frank Petereit, MD
August 3, 1930 – November 11, 2023
Martin Frank Petereit, MD, passed away at the age of 93 on November 11, 2023 at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD. Frank lived an epic life with clear evidence of God’s divine providence and mercy.
Funeral Service will be at 11:00 am Friday, November 17 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 909 W. 33rd St., Sioux Falls, SD. The family will be present one hour prior to greet friends. Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery.
He was born on August 3, 1930, to Luise and Frank Petereit in Omaha, Nebraska. He was born to poor immigrants from Germany. His mother was a “mail order” bride who worked in a canning factory while his father worked as a hired farm hand and later for the WPA (Works Progress Administration). While giving birth to Frank, Luise said God talked to her and told her that great things would happen in Frank's life.
At the age of five, Frank watched his father drown and could remember every detail of that tragic day during his entire life. He cried sitting alone on the banks of that same river, often illuminated by the moon, praying his dad would come home. He and his mother lived in Plattsmouth, NE, until he was 13. They lived in extreme poverty without running water, electricity or plumbing, and picked up coal on the railroad tracks to heat their home. They eventually relocated to the “poor house” which had slightly better conditions. At the age of 10 or so, he almost bled to death from a chain that wrapped around his left arm while on a tree swing. Dr. Jay J Keegan, a famous neurosurgeon at the University of Nebraska who developed the dermatome concept, saved Frank’s left arm and life, and entered into Frank’s life again 15 years later. During that time Luise told Frank that he should do something with his life and told him he should become a doctor. He also developed Scarlet fever (Strep) as as a child, was hospitalized and required three mitral valve replacements later in life.
Frank was on the way to becoming a juvenile delinquent when at the age of 13, Judge Duxebury whose son was a class mate of Frank’s, saw promise in Frank, intervened, and sent him to the Nebraska Children’s Home (NCH) under the care of Randall C Biart. Frank stayed with three foster families and eventually found a “home” with Charles Kofoid and his family. During this time he attended church, established a work ethic, and “molded” him to become a better person.
After high school, he sold vacuum cleaners for 4 years along the I-29 corridor between Omaha and Sioux Falls. One night he met a beautiful young brunette, Iley Joyce Rekstad, at the Arkota Ball Room in Sioux Falls. Frank often told the story of that night and, every time, made it clear that he thought Iley was too good for him. They fell in love and were married in 1952. Iley’s mother Sybil was not impressed with Frank at that time.
At the age of 22 he decided to follow his dreams and become a doctor. He enrolled as a pre-medical student at Augustana College in 1952, against their advice with his mediocre high school transcript. Iley worked to pay his tuition as a nurse at Sioux Valley. He transferred to the University of Omaha for the next two years. After three years of college he was accepted into the University of Nebraska Medical School in Omaha. During his clinical rotations he spent time with Dr. Jay J Keegan who saved his life 15 years earlier. When he was a senior medical student, he attended his 10-year high school reunion. They were shocked that he was going to be a physician.
After medical school, he interned in Ogden, UT, and performed one year of general surgery training in Fargo, ND. He then practiced general medicine for three years – initially in Waupon, WI, and later in Springfield, CO. Frank completed a three-year radiology residency at Denver General. In 1966, Frank and Iley relocated to Sioux Falls, where he dedicated his career to radiology until 1986.
Frank was the first radiologist to perform angiography in South Dakota. He decided on an early retirement, as thought he would die within five years after his first heart valve surgery. Nearly four decades and two additional open-heart surgeries later, he thankfully miscalculated his life expectancy.
Frank and Iley were blessed with 71 years of marriage, three children, seven grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and lived independently until Frank’s last month of life when he was hospitalized for progressive heart failure. They traveled extensively and enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, and spending time with the family.
Frank was a devout Christian and attended Bible study for years becoming a Biblical scholar. He was a member of Lutheran Men in Mission, and was part of the Dancing Divas, emceeing and entertaining patients in nursing homes. Once the Diva’s retired, Frank embarked on a solo “tour” of telling jokes, playing his harmonica, and leading songs with nursing home residents excited to be entertained with his antics.
Frank led a life worthy of living: some of it magic, some of it tragic, with a laudable life along the way. We believe God did speak to his mother Luise, and lead Frank for 93 years with His Divine Grace and Providence.
A few quotes by Frank from an interview several years ago. “I can tell you this, my life has been a miracle, an absolute miracle. You give back because you’re grateful. You give back by putting a little money aside in your will for the people and places that helped pull you up, like your church and your alma mater. You thank the stars for all those people watching over you. I can remember sitting on the river bank as a child and seeing the moon come off the reflection of the water, and I learned something: I learned that when you’re watching the moon on the water, the reflection will always come back at you – no matter where you are.”
Frank is survived by his wife Iley, daughter Linda Petereit, daughter Karen Meyer and Brian Johnson, son Dan and Jean Petereit, grandchildren Jason Krause, Asti Alexandria, David and Heyle Krause, Justin and Shelby Petereit, Sarah and Braedon Houdek, Mark Petereit, Brian Petereit and great grandchildren: Navy and Iley Krause, Grace and Kenneth Krause, and Thomas Petereit. Frank was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Luise Petereit.
Life is a journey and Frank overcame numerous obstacles to make a difference in the lives of so many - for which we will be forever grateful…
Contributed on 4/21/24 by 9katz
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Record #: 275830