Thomas "Tom" W. Peterson, Vermillion, SD, formerly of Sioux Falls, SD, died November 4, 2024, at Sanford/USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls. He was 71.

Tom was born at McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls. One of his earliest friends, Charley Smith, says that as kids, he and Tom lived in the same apartment building, and they've been in and out of each other's lives ever since. He says Tom was sometimes a mischievous kid, remembering that "[h]e convinced me that I couldn't eat ketchup during lent because it was made out of cow blood." He says this was always one of Tom's favorite stories to tell.

During his father's military career, Tom's family lived in five states, Europe, and Asia, eventually coming back to Sioux Falls. Tom graduated from O'Gorman High School in 1971, and he attended St. John's University in Collegeville, Mn.

Tom was a lifelong musician and songwriter. In 2009, the CD Dakota Lullaby, produced and performed by Chris Gage and Christine Albert, Austin TX, was released by MoonHouse Records of Austin, with twelve songs written by Tom. Tom's Black Hills Gold CD, featuring Tom singing eleven of his original songs, was released in 2017 by MoonHouse Records, produced by Chris Gage with Executive Producer Tony Naatjes.

The Red Willow Band recorded Tom's song "Magic Bird" in 1976, which has become a well-known and often performed anthem for many South Dakota musicians. Many other songs written by Tom have become standards for Tom and other musicians, including "Sweet Rejuvenation," "Alien Driver," "Big Fish Eat the Little Fish," "Black Hills Gold," "Dakota Lullaby," "Goodnight Blues," "Hell or High Water," and "On That Beautiful Day," and others. As Chris Gage says, Tom could write amazing songs in a wide range of styles: "…swing, bluegrass, folk, funny, and tender ballads." Tom was inducted into the South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015 and into the South Dakota Friends of Traditional Music Hall of Fame in 2017.

Tom was also an amateur historian, both of music, especially traditional American music, and of South Dakota history. He was well read, had an extensive collection of books on these subjects, as well as music CDs, and he was always eager to share his knowledge.

Tom is predeceased by his parents, Darrell and Mary, and a niece Laura Jean Peterson. He is survived by his brother Jim (Deb) Peterson of Sioux Falls, his nephew Sam Peterson of Sioux City IA, and cousins. Tom, his stories, and his sense of humor will also be remembered by many musicians, friends, and fans.

From Christine Albert: "When I first started connecting with Tom's songs and beginning work on the Dakota Lullaby album, I started writing letters to him. I wanted him to know how deeply honored I was to be singing those songs and how much they meant to me…We wrote letters to each other and had long, rambling phone chats. He was a friend, big brother and musical hero to me and this world is far less interesting without him."

From Chris Gage: "I remember driving in the truck late one night after a gig. I had discovered a cassette tape of Tom Peterson songs in a box when Christine and I moved in together. We started listening…this moonlit Texas drive slowly became our album Albert and Gage Dakota Lullaby – The Songs of Tom Peterson. Tom's songs and the sound of his voice are forever etched in my musical being. Good night, blues."

Celebrations of Tom's life will be held in Sioux Falls and in Vermillion in early spring, when his beloved "Muddy Muddy Mo" is flowing.

"When this troubled life is over,

there's one thing I know for sure, that we'll fly on the wings of a Magic Bird."

T. Peterson