HILL CITY- James Anthony "Jim" Peterson, age 56, of Hill City, SD died Friday 7, 2015 as a result of an accident. Jim was born June 26, 1959 in Woonsocket, SD to Darwin and Darlene (Goergen) Peterson. He graduated from Castlewood High School and attended SDSU in Brookings where he met his wife, Joy. Jim and Joy (Alexander) were united in marriage July 2, 1988 in Mitchell, SD and had two sons, AJ and Mitchell. Jim was employed full time by the South Dakota Army National Guard for the majority of his career, retiring in March of 2015. Jim began his career as an enlisted Private and through dedication and commitment to his country proceeded to earn the commissioned rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Hunting was a passion of Jim's and he loved spending time with friends and family hunting pheasants near his hometown. Jim was committed to community service and was proud to be a part of the Hill City Volunteer Fire Department and the Hill City Fire District, logging countless hours fighting forest fires. He served on the Hill City Planning and Zoning board and was active in St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. Jim was an avid golfer, a racquetball player, and a member of a pool league since he was a freshman in college. Jim and his wife Joy have owned the Chute Rooster in Hill City for six years and customers and employees enjoyed seeing Jim's smiling face. As a season ticket holder for the Rush, Jim considered every fellow fan his friend and rarely missed a game. He is survived by his wife Joy; sons AJ and Mitchell, Hill City; father Darwin Peterson, Alexandria; sisters Theresa (Tom) Culver, Avon; Mary (Duane) Letcher, Alexandria; brother Dan, Sioux Falls; brother-in-law Victor (Sherryl) Alexander, Hill City; sisters-in-law Debora (Kevin) Carlson, Peoria, AZ; Sheila (Leon) Gillespie, Hill City; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother. In honor of Jim, memorials may be made to the Hill City Volunteer Fire Department and Hill City Community Park Project. Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 13 from 5:00-7:00 p.m., with a wake service at 7:00 p.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Hill City, SD. Christian Funeral Mass will be offered at 10:00 a.m. on Friday at the Hill City High School Gymnasium in Hill City, SD with Rev. Janusz Korban and Deacon Pat Coy presiding. Interment will follow at Hill City Cemetery with full military honors rendered by the South Dakota Army National Guard and The Retired Enlisted Association.