Florence Marguerite Peterson, age 97 of Mankato, died Sunday, November 1, 2009 at Oaklawn Health Care Center in Mankato.
Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, November 5, 2009 at St. Peter Funeral Home-Klein Chapel with Rev. Jerry Lanes officiating. Burial will be in Scandian Grove Lutheran Church Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Thursday.
Florence was born on January 4, 1912. When she was one year old she was adopted by John and Cora Wright of Guthrie, MN. She married J. Victor Peterson on June 20, 1941 at Scandian Grove Lutheran Church.
She graduated from Bemidji State Teachers College and taught in several area country schools. She also graduated from Mankato State College (Minnesota State University) in 1958 with a BS degree in Elementary Education. She taught school 30 years (18 in Le Center). After retiring in 1970, they moved to Rochester, MN, where they enjoyed various community activities. In 1978 they returned to St. Peter.
Florence is survived by her two children, Ron and wife, Marlys of Mankato, and Margaret Vander Maat and husband, Paul of Datil, NM; five grandchildren, Randy Peterson and wife, Liesl of Spring, TX, Scott Peterson of Mankato, Tatia Veltkamp and husband, Tim of Albuquerque, NM, Kirk Vander Maat and wife, Shelly of Albuquerque, NM, and Kevin Vander Maat, and wife, Ruth of Datil, NM; 15 great-grandchildren, Alexia, Levi, and Brett Peterson, Calista and Caela Peterson, Spencer, Ryan and Justin Veltkamp, Jake, Paige, and Christopher Vander Maat, Allegra, Aspen, Emily and Ezekiel Vander Maat.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Victor in 2000; and a brother, Floyd Wright.