Helen Louise Petersen 1919 - 2014

PETERSEN, DIEHL, SCHLIEFF

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/1/2014 at 22:06:35

Sioux City Journal
1 October 2014

ANTHON, Iowa | Helen Louise Petersen, 95, of Anthon passed away Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014, at her home from natural causes.

Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Anthon United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Janet Rieckhoff-Faris officiating. Private family graveside services will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Armstrong Funeral Home in Anthon. The family is receiving condolences online at www.armstrongfuneral.com.

Helen, daughter of the late George and Lewellyn (Diehl) Schlieff of Sac City, Iowa, was born July 3, 1919, in Storm Lake, Iowa. Helen attended Hayes Consolidated School and graduated from Sac City (Iowa) High School. She received her associate degree from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake and later received her bachelor degree from Morningside College in Sioux City. She taught in the elementary grades in the public schools of Varina, Anthon, Correctionville and Anthon-Oto, retiring after 28 years in the profession. During World War II, while her husband was overseas, Helen worked for the government which included working in a German Prisoner War Camp in Arizona.

Helen was united in marriage to Thomas H. Petersen Jr. of Anthon on May 28, 1942. Thomas passed away in April 1995. They were the parents of two children, Susan Jane and Thomas III.

She was a member of United Methodist Church, where she took an active part in the adult and children’s choirs. She was also a member of the U.M.W. Helen was an active member of the Thonna Chapter O.E.S., being a past Worthy Matron. She enjoyed golfing, reading, and playing bridge

Survivors include her daughter, Susan Craig and her husband, Pat of Eldora, Iowa; son, Thomas Petersen III and his wife, Bonnie of Anthon; three grandchildren Tanya Johnson and her husband, Thane, Thomas Petersen IV and his wife, Loni, and Ryan Petersen and special friend, Amber Groen; three great-grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren, Suzy (Craig) McIntyre and her husband, Mike and Kathy (Craig) Uitermarkt and her husband, Brent; seven great-stepgrandchildren; a brother-in-law, Richard Petersen and his wife, Jean of Anthon; several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews and great-grandnieces and nephews.

Along with her husband, Helen was preceded in death by her siblings, Mary Jane Klotz and George R. Schlieff.

As an expression of appreciation, please consider donations to the Anthon United Methodist Church, the Anthon Rescue Squad and Ambulance or the Hamann Memorial Library in Helen’s memory.