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Rose Mary Peterson

Rose Mary Peterson (nee Niesken) of Lakeland, MN was born on June 28, 1930 in Buffalo, MN and died April 2, 2019 at the age of 88 after complications due to a hip fracture. She is preceded in death by her parents Leonard and Rose Niesken and her husband Art Peterson.

As a child Rose moved around a lot and attended schools in numerous small towns in western Minnesota. At age 13 she moved to Owatonna and attended junior high school at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and St. Mary’s School. She graduated from Owatonna High School in 1949. Some of her favorite childhood memories include fishing on the lake near their home, downhill skiing on a neighbor’s wooden skis, and being May Day Queen. She worked as a waitress at Steve’s Restaurant and the Friendly Lunch Café and was the first of her group to drive a car. She was also employed by Federated Mutual Insurance in Owatonna and had worked her way to becoming the Supervisor of the Policy Department. She had many friends in Owatonna including: Jeanette Cunningham, Fran and Mary Ann Janous, Doris Mestad, Mary Ann Wanous and Eileen Arndts.

She met and married Arthur Peterson in 1967. At that time, they built their home in Lakeland where she did much of the painting and finishing work. Rose’s interests included knitting, water color painting, quilting, crocheting, accordion, the Bible, traveling and spending time at their cabin in Grand Rapids. She enjoyed benthological/fresh water science meetings with her husband over the years which resulted in their travel throughout the U.S. Rose and Art were very devoted to each other and enjoyed many things including their annual drive to get apples in the fall, their long stays at their cabin, her delicious apple pies and outings with friends.

Art passed away in 2004 at Lakeview Hospital, where she met, now good friend, Rose Ueland. Ueland also cared for Art while in the hospital. Rose was able to stay in their home because Rose Ueland and other close friends saw to her needs; including advising managing home maintenance over the years, meal preparations, organizing outside home care services, getting her to and from “Senior Fit” classes several days a week and the many other various struggles of an aging woman determined to stay living at home.

Rose reminisced often of her Owatonna friend’s yearly visits for her birthday celebration, spending time with her husband and good neighbors, the Nelson’s, the annual garage sales, block parties and overall great Lakeland and St. Francis community. She often spoke of her memories of her dog Chico and she enjoyed visiting with Yorkie Gizmo particularly when Brian Loncar brought him to her home when mowing her lawn and most recently, into the Christian Community Home where she briefly stayed after her hip injury.

Rose was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in St. Croix Beach, MN where she was one of the first members of the lady’s quilting group, volunteered during the annual blood drive and she was on the prayer chain. She also volunteered outside of church at the local food shelf and at the Linden Nursing Home. Although she was not blessed with children of her own, neighbor children loved to play at her house and she longed to meet the child she had lost in miscarriage – they’re together now.

Rose is survived by many, including relatives Carol (nee Romness) and Frank Loncar, their children Brian, Katelyn, and Michael, Carol’s sister Daphne Romness, brother Brian and Cathy Romness with whom she and Art had fondly spent the holidays in addition to Carol’s parents – Halvor and Avis Romness for over 27 years. She is also survived by close community friends including Rose Ueland, Judy and John Regan, Liani Pierce (every Thursday dinner date), Robert Behrman , Marion Mangan, Ruth Miller (the muffin lady), Algene Larson (longtime family friend) and Jay Schnieder.

Rose wanted to make sure a special “Thank You” was given to the church ladies who visited her every Sunday, and also to Laura Schultz, Homeinstead health aide.

Visitation will be at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Lake St. Croix Beach on Thursday April 4, 2019 at 11 am with mass following at 12pm. Rose will be laid to rest alongside her loving husband, her parents and other relatives at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Owatonna, MN.

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