Viola Mae (Gayken) GREEN PETERSON

PETERSON, GAYKEN, RUSCHER, GREEN, LITZEL, DWYER, SEAMEN, WILSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/18/2008 at 10:33:34

GOODELL - Viola "Blondie" M. Peterson, 82, a native of Britt and longtime resident of the Goodell area, died Wednesday (Oct. 15, 2008) at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Goodell United Methodist Church with the Rev. Paddy Druhl officiating. Burial will be in the Amsterdam Cemetery east of Goodell. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First St. S.E., Belmond, and will continue one hour prior to the services at church Saturday. Memorials are suggested to the family or the donor's choice.

Viola Mae Gayken, the daughter of Frank and Anna (Ruscher) Gayken, was born May 13, 1926, in Britt. She spent her childhood in Britt where she attended Britt Public Schools. During her years of education, she participated as drum major for the Britt High School Marching Band. As a young lady she was nicknamed "Blondie," a name that most people knew her by the rest of her life. At an early age, Viola was united in marriage to Lyle Green. The couple's union was blessed with eight children. An accident took Lyle's life several years later and Blondie became a widow at age 35. This new role as a single mother with many young children brought with it many challenges and responsibilities, but also Blondie's family became the complete center of her life and attention. Her love for her family was always foremost in her life. She married Christie Peterson on Dec. 8, 1961, in Garner. The couple was blessed with a son, Jay Peterson. In addition to being a lifelong homemaker, mother and wife to two husbands, Blondie helped out with the farming duties during the family's years on the farm. Blondie enjoyed the simple things in life, such as gatherings with family and friends, music, and dancing. In earlier years of her life she had been active in bowling and looked forward to going out on social occasions. Her family also reflects fondly on family vacations and Blondie's great sense of humor and wit. Blondie worked alongside her husband, Christie, in the garden and did a great deal of canning. Blondie's culinary and cooking skills were famous. Whether it was her famous potato salad or a mouthwatering piece of "Blondie's Dessert" as it was often named by people who were lucky enough to have some at a local function, her recipes were one of a kind. Luckily, Blondie looked forward to sharing her ingredients and techniques with others.

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband of almost 47 years, Christie Peterson, Goodell; her children, Richard Green, Pensacola, Fla., Marvin Green, Algona, Keith Green, Mason City, Kelly (Deb) Green, Virginia Beach, Va., Vicky Green, Texas, Pam Litzel, Clear Lake, Perry Green, Belmond, Karen (Paul) Dwyer, Belmond, Jay Peterson, Mona Seamen (grandchild), Goodell; 15 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Lyle Green; granddaughter, Jennifer Wilson; brothers, Lester and Harold; and sisters, Verna and Blanch. Andrews Funeral Homes, Belmond.

Mason City Globe Gazette, Iowa
10/17/2008