Peterson, Ethel L. (1910-2005)

PETERSON, BODIL, RASMUSSEN, CHRISTOFFERSEN

Posted By: John Schulte (email)
Date: 9/16/2005 at 12:35:40

Audubon County Advocate

Funeral services for Ethel L. Peterson, 95, were conducted Aug. 20, 2005 at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, with Pastor Bill Embree officiating. Interment was in the Bethany Lutheran Cemetery northeast of Kimballton. Honorary casket bearers were: Ed Noreen, Chet Peterson, Wally Noreen, Don Noreen, Louie Lauritsen, Richard Hemmingsen, Bent Petersen, John Heckman, Brad May and Dr. Gary Jorgensen. Casket bearers were: John McKeen, Bryce May, Jon Peterson, Matthew Peterson, Brian Howland and Craig Petersen.

Ethel Lucile Peterson, the daughter of Lars Christian and Anna Bodil Rasmussen Christoffersen, was born April 17, 1910, at her parents’ home in Audubon and died Aug. 15, 2005, at her home in St. Paul, MN.

Ethel was baptized May 29, 1910, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon and confirmed April 13, 1924, at the Hamlin Lutheran Church in Hamlin. She attended Hamlin School, then walked back and forth to Audubon for high school. Ethel graduated with the High School Class of 1927. She managed the Sinclair Gas Station in Hamlin for one year, then moved to Omaha, NE, where she attended and graduated from the Boyles Business College. Ethel was employed as the executive secretary to the president of Columbia Institute in Chicago for four years. During her employment they traveled across the United States, Canada and Mexico promoting the correspondence courses. She returned to Audubon and organized the Audubon Garden Club.

On Dec. 26, 1933, she was united in marriage to Dr. Walter G. Peterson at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. They moved to Exira where Dr. Peterson had his practice. Ethel was active in the Exira Community. She helped found the Exira Garden Club in 1936. Ethel was politically active all her life. She was a member of the Democratic State Central Committee for 17 years. She served as 7th district committee woman and attended three national conventions. She was secretary for the Exira Cemetery Association for 22 years, also serving as secretary of the Iowa Cemetery Association and was instrumental in seeing that a Perpetual Care System was established. During tax season Ethel worked at the Vande Brake office. She helped plan and direct over 165 weddings and worked at the Audubon County Journal for a number of years writing feature articles. She acted as Audubon County Census Head and 7th District Agricultural Census Head. She held a state judging certificate and judged handwork and flower arrangements at area county and state fairs.

For 13 years Ethel supervised a seven state area for The Pulse, Inc. of New York, a national research company, where she was responsible for hiring interviewers for house to house surveys of radio and television programs and coordinating their work for the New York office.

In 1967, Ethel initiated a travel agency in Exira. The office received professional status and Exira was recognized as the smallest town to be granted this. She later opened branch offices in Atlantic, Carroll, Corning, Newell, Coon Rapids, Knoxville and Harlan. She later sold the businesses in the early 1980s.

Dr. Peterson died July 23, 1983. Ethel lived in Exira then moved to St. Paul, MN, where she has lived for the past 10 years.

Ethel was a member of the Exira Lutheran Church. She was a 77-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star and had served as Worthy Matron. She was a 77-year member of the Audubon Danish Sisterhood. She had been a Boy Scout den mother and a 4-H leader for many years. She was the first chairman of the Polio Foundation in Audubon County. Ethel served on the Exira School Board and was one of the Founders of the WAGs (Women’s Action Group) in Exira.

Preceding her in death in addition to her husband, Dr. Walter G. Peterson; were her son, Brook J. Peterson; her parents; her brothers and sisters: Hans (Harry) Christoffersen; Hazel Garner; Alfred Christoffersen; Leonard Christoffersen; Edwin Christoffersen; Clarice Bogenreif; Lloyd Christoffersen; and two infant siblings.

Ethel is survived by her daughter, Cynthia and husband, John McKeen of St. Paul, MN; her daughter-in-law, Rosemary Peterson of Waconia, MN; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Kristen and husband, Brian Howland of Savage, MN and their son, Zachary; Jon and Jean Peterson of Eagan, MN and their children Aaron, Greta, Marta and Timothy; Mary and husband, Craig Petersen of Eden Prairie, MN; Matthew and wife, Julie Peterson of Waconia, MN and their son, Benjamin; Sasha Walley of Minneapolis, MN; her sister-in-law, Peg Christoffersen of Iowa City; her cousin, Harriet Schroeder of Inver Grove Heights, MN; many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.