Peterson, Esther Elizabeth Fallein (1885-1933)

PETERSON, FALLEIN, CELANDER, TEANDER

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:00

Webster City Freeman, Webster City, Iowa, Monday, September 25, 1933

Esther Elizabeth Fallein Peterson was born Jan. 22, 1885 on a farm near Stratford and died Sept. 2, 1933 at the age of 48 years, 7 months and 15 days. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Fallein.

At the age of eight years she moved with her parents to Webster City, where her father held the position of county auditor for two years. He died on the day of his reelection to that office. After his death the family moved to Stratford where she attended high school graduating in 1902. In 1909 she was graduated from the Conservatory of Music at Morningside college at Sioux City. Afterwards she took post graduate work under Emil Leibling, of Kimball ?, Chicago. For a number of years she did lyceum and chautauqua work.

Her marriage to Henry L. Peterson, of Slater, took place Feb. 26, 1914 at her home at Stratford. They made their home in Slater where he was engaged in the clothing business, first with his father and later with his brother, Archie. To this union were born two children, Henrietta Mae and Stanley Fallein.

She was a member of the M.E. church and began early in life to use her musical talent as organist. She served both the Stratford and the Slater M.E. churches in that capacity. She otherwise took an active interest in church work and passed away with an implicit faith and confidence in the saving powers of the One she had worshipped in life.

She was preceded in death by her husband who died Nov. 29, 1932. Besides a host of relatives and friends she left to mourn her departure her two children, Henrietta Mae, age 17, and Stanley Fallein, age 13 years. Her mother, Mrs. A.J. Celander, and a sister, Mrs. E.N. Teander, both of Des Moines, and two brothers, Elmer Fallein of Denver, Col., and Ellis Fallein, of Des Moines. Mrs. Peterson was a very talented woman, especially along musical lines and she gave freely of her services to every worthy cause, whether the church, the schools or any other worthy effort. The people will miss her. Scattered over the country are hundreds of her piano pupils many of them grown to motherhood. At the time of her death she had a class of 20 girls who were heartbroken by her untimely death. She was also a lover of home and home life and her piano was her constant companion and she fostered the best in music, the kind that lives on and on.

Funeral services were held from the Bethlehem church at Slater Sunday, Sept. 6. Services were attended by the largest crowd that ever met at a gathering of this kind in Slater. Amplifiers had been installed in the basement of the church as well as on the outside, making it possible for everyone to hear.

The services were in charge of her pastor, the Rev. G.C. Swain. He was assisted by the Rev. E.R. Rorem, of the Bethlehem church, and the Rev. Eric Swan, of Des Moines.

Musical numbers, the same that had been given at the burial of her beloved husband nine months ago, then selected by her, were repeated at the request of her daughter. The Rev. Swain sang, "The City Four Square", Miss Ruth Halverson sang "In the Garden" and a group of men two numbers, "Rock of Ages" and "Near, Near to Thee." Miss Ruth Halverson presided at the organ.

The floral offerings that covered the casket and embanked the front of the church were very many and unusually beautiful. They came from relatives and friends far and near, silent, yet sweet tribute and tokens of love.

The pallbearers were Charles Rupp, of Chicago, Albert Fallein, of Perry, Swan Shaeffer, of Stratford; John Warren, of Carroll; Emil Teander of Des Moines and Archie Peterson of Slater.

Burial was made in the South Marion cemetery south of Stratford, beside her husband who was buried there Dec. 2, 1932.

-Contributed