Photo courtesy of Hamilton Funeral Home Marshall resident and businessman Randy Peterson died this week, at the age of 71.

MARSHALL — Visitors to Marshall’s downtown might have known Randy Peterson from The Orphanage Antiques and Strawberry Fields gift shop. But although Peterson was “a dedicated worker,” his friendship also made a lasting impression on people, Richard Blomme said.

“He was exceptional at living in the moment,” said Blomme, a friend of Peterson’s. “He would look warmly at you and invite you in. He always found the fun in things.”

Peterson died June 23 at his home in Marshall. He was 71. Memorial services for Peterson are currently pending.

Peterson was born on Dec. 11, 1954. His family were an active part of the Marshall area community. Randy’s father Irv Peterson founded the Peterson Music Company, which expanded into a multi-story building on Marshall’s Main Street.

“They had everything,” from records to band instruments, Blomme said of the music store.

As a member of local band The Cavemen, Blomme got to know Randy’s brother Gary Peterson. But he said he also worked together with Randy.

“Randy and I used to deliver pianos for Irv,” Blomme said. “That was probably when I started to get to know him.” As a young man, Peterson also worked a vending machine route, Blomme said.

Peterson was well-liked in the community, Blomme said.

“Randy had a lot of close friends around Marshall,” Blomme said. “Everyone I’ve talked to said he never said a bad word about anybody . . . he was just a very dependable, very nice person.”

Randy Sovell said he and Peterson knew each other going back to their high school days. In the 1970s, Peterson took him on a memorable trip to Canada, in the spring before Sovell went into the Marines.

“He threw together a fishing trip,” and the two of them hit the road in a panel van, Sovell said. They stopped in Duluth to meet up with friends, before continuing north to their fishing spot.

“When we got up in the morning, the lake was frozen,” Sovell said. “We never even got to fish.”

Although the fishing trip wasn’t meant to be, Sovell said he and Peterson still had a lot of fun driving and talking, and listening to Yes on 8-track.

“He was a good friend,” Sovell said.

In addition to fishing, Peterson’s interests included riding motorcycles and dirt bikes, Blomme said. Blomme said he also learned from friends that Peterson loved to play a game of foosball.

“He was the foosball king of Lyon County,” Blomme said.

While Peterson liked having fun, he was also a hard worker. Blomme said Peterson seldom missed work at The Orphanage Antiques and Strawberry Fields boutique on Main Street. The antiques business was started in the 1970s by Randy’s mother Mary Lou.

In the couple of days since learning about Peterson’s death, a group of his friends were reminiscing about him through text messages, Blomme said.

“He left such a mark on all of us,” Blomme said. “He offered unassuming love to his friends.”