Petersen, Thelma B. (1909 – 2009)

PETERSEN, FERRY, STEENHUSSEN, ZEMANEK, RAMSEY, KARL, SCHEETZ, MARTINDALE, ERICKSON

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 8/26/2013 at 19:17:51

Name of deceased: Thelma Beatrice Petersen

Aged: 99 yrs, 5 mo, 16 days

Residence: Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn, IA

Born: Nov. 6, 1909, Polk Township in Shelby County, IA

Died: April 22, 2009, Elk Horn, IA

Funeral services: Saturday, April 25, 2009, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Irwin, IA. Pastor Ron Rasmussen officiated. Burial was at Rose Hill Cemetery in Kirkman, IA.

Survived by: Sister-in-law, Lola Petersen of Louisville, NE; nieces and nephews, H. Rand Petersen (spouse, Mary Louise), Richard Ferry (spouse, Julienne) all of Harlan, IA, Donald Ferry (spouse, Jean), Patricia (spouse, Peter) Steenhussen all of Irwin, IA, Betty Ann (spouse, Don) Zemanek of Cincinnati, OH, Jannie (spouse, Tom) Ramsey of Riverton, IA, Jesse (spouse, Tom) Karl of Louden, TN, Stephen Scheetz (spouse, Suzanne) of Arlington Heights, IL, Astrid (spouse, Ben) Martindale of Wadsworth, IL, Tom Petersen (spouse, Sandy) of Indianola, IA, Scott Petersen of West Des Moines, IA, Sally Petersen (spouse, John) Clark of Greeley, CO; many great nieces and nephews; other family members and many friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Hans J. and Katie (nee Erickson) Petersen; siblings, Wilmer, Myrtle, Vern, Ruby, Archie, Marjorie, and Victor

Education: attended Danway Country School and later graduated from Kirkman High School in Kirkman, IA. She continued her education at Iowa State University in Ames, IA, where she studied home economics. Due to the depression, Thelma left Iowa State University and returned home to help her family on the farm and to take care of her parents with her brother, Archie.

Religious affiliation: She was baptized and confirmed at the Norwegian Lutheran Church, which was later moved to Irwin, IA, and was renamed St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Thelma was an active member of the church where she served on the visiting committee and held numerous church offices. She remained a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

Military service: n/a

Marriage: no information provided

Employment: Thelma left Iowa State University and returned home to help her family on the farm and to take care of her parents with her brother, Archie. Thelma continued to live on the family farm until 1993, when she moved into Harlan.

Hobbies/Interests: Sunday dinners were an important tradition to the Petersen family and Thelma continued that tradition for many years. Thelma was an active leader with 4-H and the Iowa State Extension in Shelby County. She enjoyed spending time outside with her flowers was very involved with her garden club, as well as active with the historical society. She was active in the community beautification of the fairgrounds and the Slate Arboretum, and made multiple financial donations to area institutions, including the Danish Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn, IA, and the Okoboji Lutheran Church Camp in Okoboji, IA. Thelma also kept a daily journal for over sixty years that talked about her activities and any visitors that stopped by the farm. She donated her journal to the women’s archives at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA.

Sources: pauleyjones.com