Ernest Ernie Peters, 62, of Mitchell, died August 19, 2004 at Avera McKennan Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Monday, at the First Lutheran Church in Mitchell. Visitation will be from 6-8 PM Sunday at the Will Funeral Chapel with a prayer service at 7 PM. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery with military rites. Ernie Peters was born July 21, 1942 at Hartley, Iowa to Hans and Christine (Claussen) Peters. He grew to adulthood on a farm in northwest Iowa and graduated from Hartley High School in 1960. Ernie attended the University of South Dakota from 1960-1961. He served in Germany with the United States Army from 1962 to 1964. After his discharge, he attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake Iowa from 1965-1967 and received his Bachelors Degree. He married Linda Nurse at Hartley, Iowa in 1965. He attended the University of Iowa from 1968-1970 and received his Master of Social Work Degree. Ernie was employed as a Regional Program Representative for the Department of Social Services in Dubuque, Iowa from 1970-1971 and from 1971-1973 in Des Moines, Iowa. He became the Executive Director of the Abbott House in 1973 and for over thirty-two years provided safety and treatment to over 5000 youth. He served on the Governors Committee on Alternative Care in 1975; was a past President of Association of Private Group Care for Children and Youth and served on the legislative committee on state facility for girls. He had served as president of the State Board of Social Work Examiners from 1984-1987 and was on the Presidents Planning Committee of the National Association of Homes and Services for Children. From 1990 to the present he was on the Peer Reviewer for Council on Accreditation for Services for Families and Children in Washington, D.C; was District V Representative for the National Fellowship of Child Care Executives and was serving on the National Association of Homes and Services for Children. Ernie was united in marriage with Lana Andersen on December 30, 2001 in Davison County. Ernie served as a consultant for the Red Horse Lodge, Ft. Thompson, SD and was a consultant for the McCrossan Boys Ranch at Sioux Falls. He was a member of the National Association of Social Workers and Academy of Certified Social Workers; the South Dakota Corrections Association and the National Fellowship of Child Care Executives. He was named the Boss of the Year from the Mitchell Business and Professional Women and received the Grace Highley Award, a lifetime professional service from the Childrens Home Society. He was presently serving as president of the National Fellowship of Child Care Executives and was currently a board member of the CASA Board for 2004. He is survived by his wife, Lana; his children: Travis Peters, Brookings, SD; Mindy Peters, Mitchell; Mike Peters and wife, Donalee, Westminster, CO; two grandchildren: Anna Peters and Christina Peters; step-children:; Chase Andersen and wife, Michelle, Ames, IA and Casey Andersen, Las Vegas, NV; a brother, Herb Peters and wife, Jill, San Diego, CA, a sister, Louise Gaunt and husband, Denny, Golden, CO, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Roy and Elmer. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Abbott House, 909 Court Merrill, Mitchell, SD 57301