Dorothy L. Peterson

Dorothy Louise Peterson, 85, of St. Charles passed away January 19, 2018 at Golden Living Center in St. Charles, after a year- long battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born June 4, 1932 in Northfield MN to Arthur M. Peterson and Jewel (Johnson) Peterson. Dorothy graduated from Northfield High School and attended nursing school in Chicago, IL. In September 1952 she married her high school sweetheart, Lloyd Peterson. Dorothy and Lloyd lived in Castle Rock and Bloomington MN before settling in St. Charles in 1966. Dorothy was a homemaker, worked at Camera Art in Lewiston, and at the St. Charles Elementary school as an aide, from where she retired. During retirement, she and Lloyd opened and ran Grandmas Variety and Grandpas Locker room in St. Charles.
Dorothy was an avid sports fan from watching her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in their sports/school activities to watching sports on TV, fully supporting her MN teams.
She enjoyed camping with family and friends, especially in Northern Minnesota and later at Money Creek in Houston, MN. She also enjoyed her many travels, by land, air and sea - especially her trips to Norway with her sister, Julie. Dorothy looked forward to the trips and outings with her Red Hat group.
It was obvious to those who saw her and visited her home that she was very loyal to her Norwegian heritage, from her collection of Norwegian sweaters to the decor in and around her home, as those little gnomes were lurking all about. She loved to bake all the specialties at Christmas and led the charge on the Lefse making sessions to which she passed the rolling pin down to her daughters and granddaughters. She was also a 'knitter' and made many items from mittens to the famous Christmas socks. This was a good hobby that she enjoyed doing, especially while watching sports on TV
Many years ago, her husband Lloyd, adopted a black lab, Joy, from Paws and Claws and after his passing Joy continued to be a loyal companion to Dorothy. When she could no longer take care of Joy, Paws and Claws found her a new home, which happened to be in St. Charles, and that brought so much comfort to Dorothy to hear how well Joy was doing. She belonged to Faith Lutheran Church in St. Charles.
Dorothy is survived by her four children; Margaret (Bruce) Braun, Kathy (Paul) Decker, Dan (Renee) Peterson and Doug (Jackie) Peterson, grandchildren Denise Decker, Anita Decker, Tricia Braun, Teresa (Jo) Small, Mike Decker, Cory Peterson, Trista Fetting, Brandon Peterson and Nick Peterson,and 15 great-grandchildren. Also, her sister Julie (John) Grier and brothers Donald Peterson and John "Jack" (Diane) Peterson, a sister-in-law Cathy Peterson and many nieces and nephews. She was preceeded in death by her husband Lloyd (6/28/13), her parents, and a brother David Peterson.
Services to remember Dorothy will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Faith Lutheran Church in St. Charles with the Reverend Steve McGinley officiating. Friends may call from 9 a.m. until time of services at the church. Please share a memory of Dorothy at her online guestbook and view her video tribute, when it becomes available at www.hofffuneral.com. Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service of St. Charles is assisting her family with arrangements. Dorothy participated in "Anatomical Bequest" for Mayo Clinic, which gives new medical students educational benefits of the human body.
The family prefers memorials to the St. Charles Academic Scholarship Fund or Paws and Claws of Rochester.