Nathaniel was born March 22, 2002, in Sturgis, SD, to D. Wade and Carrie (Stephens) Peterson. He was born the day after his great-grandma's (Pearl Peterson) funeral. His residence on Peaceful Springs Place never changed over a mile in 18 years. He completed all twelve years of school at Peterson Bible Academy (home-schooling), where a love and ease of learning budded at an early age. As Mommy's first pupil, he excelled to the point where (to Mommy's disappointment) her help was not needed anymore. He enjoyed music and excelled at both piano and guitar. Grandpa Jim was his biggest fan. For approximately the last year, he lived and worked near Oral, SD, returning home most weekends.

The Lord had blessed Nathaniel with an active mind, as well as a gift of working with his hands – climbing up to the sink to help with dishes and mixing cookie dough. At 2 years old, he wanted to show Daddy and Mommy how he could read. Asking them to turn to Luke 2, he proceeded to "read" verbatim about 15 verses and proceeded into Matthew for another 5. Daddy and Mommy realized he had memorized the Christmas story after hearing only 2 previous readings! They became keenly aware of the importance of choosing wisely what his mind was filled with. August 12, 2007, at the age of 5, Nathaniel approached Daddy, telling him he wanted to ask Jesus into his heart. Daddy had the privilege of praying with him and giving him his first Gideon New Testament.

Nathaniel loved to create and build things. At the age of 8, he built a raft. Cousins and siblings watched in dismay as it began to sink under too heavy a load. This temporary setback did not deter him from the joy of building. Over time, the projects changed from boats to planes, such as model planes and designing a variable pitch prop. This joy of creating found an outlet for him in real life skills when it came time to work on the barn, church parsonage, grandparent's house and the family's home.

Social life revolved around church services and activities at the Prairie Bible Church of God, as well as several other area churches. Nathaniel looked forward to Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, Easter & Christmas programs, Christmas caroling and any other church activity he could participate in. As he grew older and more siblings joined the family, birthday parties and family togetherness remained a high priority for Nathaniel. Sometimes just sitting at home, playing with the little ones, joining in with the older ones' activities, and even helping with the home-schooling qualified as fun for him.

As Nathaniel matured, he found a few other life skills he enjoyed. Hunting, trapping, skinning, and working with rawhide were challenges he loved to tackle. Ranch work also by necessity thrived in his hands, and he found great enjoyment in the seasonal work of ranch life, enduring the goat and lambing chores, and especially loving particulars like riding his motorcycle, going horseback, and haying.

This last year brought new opportunities for Nathaniel. He graduated from home-schooling in December of 2020. A lifelong dream became available: apprenticeship in welding and manufacturing of AIRPLANES! On March 22, 2021 (19 ^th birthday), Daddy and Nathaniel made a trip to Oregon to pick up a plane for him to finish assembling. Work continued to be exciting, as he could now build on his own plane after hours.

His overall desire to grow in the Lord and fellowship with other Christians continued. He spent more time in the Hot Springs area, becoming involved in 2 Bible studies through the week, and attending church services on Sundays.

On Sunday, January 30, 2022, Nathaniel was killed in an airplane crash involving his own plane. His Lord welcomed him home.

Nathaniel is survived by his parents; 9 siblings, Philip, Pearl, Paul, Joanna, Esther, Ed, Samuel, Susanna, and Stephen; maternal grandparents, Michael and Diane Stephens; 1 maternal great-grandmother, Lillian Stephens; and all uncles, aunts and cousins.

Nathaniel was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Jim and Linda Peterson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established at the Prairie Bible Church of God in Enning, SD; Fountain of Life Assemblies of God in Hot Springs, SD; and the Wesleyan Church of Hot Springs, SD.

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