Thelma J. Peterson

RUSHFORD, MINN. - Thelma J. Peterson, 92, of Rushford, formerly of Winona and Thief River Falls, Minn. died Tuesday, November 29, 2005, at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Rushford. Thelma was born on May 8, 1913, to Gunstein and Thora (Neset) Tveit in Thief River Falls, Minn. She graduated from the teachers training program at Bemidji State College. Thelma was a teacher in various one-room schools for thirteen years in northern Minnesota. She worked in defense plants in the western US during WWII, where she repaired and helped build airplanes. She married Raymond E. Peterson on April 13, 1947. They farmed in Thief River Falls and Houston, Minn. areas until they retired and moved to Winona in 1971. Thelma had many varied interests and enjoyed visiting with her family and friends who stopped by for coffee and conversation. Thelma is survived by her three children: Gerald (Ruth) Peterson of Wilton, Iowa, Jeanne (Wayne) Feldmeier of Houston, Minn. and Wallace (Gail) Peterson of Fredricksburg, Virginia; eleven grandchildren: Ryan, BJ, Kristin, Brian, Danny, and Nathan Peterson, Gabrielle (Jim) Koenig, Gwendolynn and Garrett Masyga, Jessica (Mitch) Douglass, and Christine (Robert) Tolbert; four great-grandchildren; and two sisters: Jeannette (Glenn) Arhart and Gladys Rasmussen. She was preceded in death by her husband and two sisters. The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, at Looney Valley Lutheran Church in rural Houston, Minn. with the Rev. Jeffrey Forbes officiating. Burial will be in the Silver Creek Cemetery in rural Houston, Minn. Friends may call from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at Hoff Funeral Homes - Rushford Chapel and one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church.