Oakland in Burt County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Governor Frederick Valdemar Erastus Peterson
December 28, 2024
1. Governor Frederick Valdemar Erastus Peterson Marker
Inscription.
Governor Frederick Valdemar Erastus Peterson. . Val Peterson was born July 18, 1903, in the Oakland Swedish Lutheran Church parsonage, where his grandfather R.N. Swanberg was the pastor. Returning to live in Oakland at age fourteen, Peterson kept busy with school activities and various jobs, including work as a "printer's devil" for the Oakland Independent newspaper. He attended Wayne State Teachers College before earning a master's degree in political science from the University of Nebraska. He was a school teacher and superintendent, and published the Elgin Review newspaper. During World War II he served as an Army Air Corps lieutenant colonel, leading flight operations in the China/Bermuda region. Peterson was elected Nebraska's 27th governor in 1946, serving three two-year terms. He initiated Operation Snowbound during the Blizzard of 1949. Peterson served in the Eisenhower administration as Federal Civil Defense Administrator, 1953-57, and as U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, 1957-61. He established Oakland's sister city relationship with Hammenhog, Sweden. As U.S. Ambassador to Finland, 1969-72, he participated in the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) talks. He died October 17, 1983.
Val Peterson was born July 18, 1903, in the Oakland Swedish Lutheran Church parsonage, where his grandfather R.N. Swanberg was the pastor. Returning to live in Oakland at age fourteen, Peterson kept busy with school activities and various jobs, including work as a "printer's devil" for the Oakland Independent newspaper. He attended Wayne State Teachers College before earning a master's degree in political science from the University of Nebraska. He was a school teacher and superintendent, and published the Elgin Review newspaper. During World War II he served as an Army Air Corps lieutenant colonel, leading flight operations in the China/Bermuda region. Peterson was elected Nebraska's 27th governor in 1946, serving three two-year terms. He initiated Operation Snowbound during the Blizzard of 1949. Peterson served in the Eisenhower administration as Federal Civil Defense Administrator, 1953-57, and as U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, 1957-61. He established Oakland's sister city relationship with Hammenhog, Sweden. As U.S. Ambassador to Finland, 1969-72, he participated in the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) talks. He
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died October 17, 1983.
Erected 2017 by Swedish Heritage Center, Nebraska State Historical Society. (Marker Number 538.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Nebraska State Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 18, 1903.
Location. 41° 50.149′ N, 96° 27.797′ W. Marker is in Oakland, Nebraska, in Burt County. It is at the intersection of North Charde Avenue (U.S. 77) and East Third Street, on the right when traveling north on North Charde Avenue. Located outside the Swedish Heritage Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 301 N Charde Ave, Oakland NE 68045, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Nebraska. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and on the prairies. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers
December 28, 2024
2. Governor Frederick Valdemar Erastus Peterson Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 7, 2025. This page has been viewed 230 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on February 7, 2025.
