Seagull Lake Loss

     Halloween Night was windy and blustery on the Gunflint Trail.  It isn’t uncommon for trees to fall onto the Trail and many people travel with saws and chainsaws in their vehicles for this very reason.  This is what Ken Petersen was doing as he and a fellow choir member were travelling home from Grand Marais.

     Ken was in Grand Marais at a practice for the Messiah, a community choir concert performed each year during Christmas time.  The rumor is a tree was across the Gunflint Trail and Ken and his friend stopped their individual cars, put their flashers on and pulled over to the side of the road.  He got his chain saw out of the car and began cutting up the tree while his friend pulled parts of it to the ditch.  The friend could hear a vehicle in the distance and didn’t think too much of it.  They were in a straight stretch of the road and everyone who drives the Gunflint Trail would approach cautiously and offer their assistance. 

     Unfortunately this is not what happened.  These are not confirmed facts but the vehicle did not stop or slow down and Ken did not hear the approaching vehicle above the sound of his chainsaw.  All the friend could do was watch in horror as Ken was ran over and killed instantly.  A good guy doing the deeds of a good samaritan killed on the Gunflint Trail.

     Ken will be missed by all of his friends on Seagull Lake, the Gunflint Trail and at Wilderness Canoe Base.  A service will be held in Grand Marais on Thursday, November 8th at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.