Petersen, Aline 1916-2006

PETERSEN, WEHRLI, LIDTKA, GROVES, BOWLER, OELHER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 12/7/2010 at 08:46:21

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Aug. 10, 2006

ALINE PETERSEN

Aline Petersen, 89, of Grinnell died Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2006, at Friendship Manor.

A funeral service will be held Friday, Aug. 11, at 10:30 a.m. at Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Carol Myers officiating. Interment will be at Sheridan Cemetery, rural Grinnell. Friends may call at Smith Funeral Home beginning at 12 noon on Thursday with family members present from 6 to 8 p.m. Online condolences may be submitted to her family on the Smith Funeral Home website.

She was born near Grinnell on Dec. 14, 1916, the daughter of Edward and Mary Wehrli Lidtka. She was raised in Chester Township and Grinnell, graduating from Chester High School in 1931 and Grinnell High School with the Class of 1933. She attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls for two years and summer school at the University of Colorado in Boulder after which she taught in rural schools in Chester Township. She was married to Eldon (Sammy) Petersen on Jan. 14, 1939, in Unionville, Mo. They farmed in Chester and Sheridan Townships for much of their lives. She worked as a receptionist for Dr. Grimmer and later for Dr. Ransom. She also worked for Dr. Warren Bower from 1967 to 1979. When the Petersens retired from farming they moved into Grinnell. They spent their winter months in Brownsville, Texas, and following her husband's death, she continued to winter in Texas until 1994.

She was partial to Sonora Grange, particularly enjoying putting together various programs. She also spent much time in Sheridan Methodist Church projects, including its Women's Society of Christian Service group never missing church socials or programs. She was especially devoted to her grandchildren and great grandchildren who loved to spend time on the farm helping in the garden. She enjoyed playing bridge, tending her garden, listening to music and traveling with the Heritage Club.

She is survived by three daughters, Karen Groves of Grinnell; Sally Bowler of Howey in the Hills, Fla., and Nancy Oelher of Reeds Spring, Mo.; eight grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and three brothers, Afton Lidtka, Virgil Lidtka and Tracy Lidtka.