Alta Vivian Petersen

Alta Vivian Petersen, the daughter of Julius and Anna Rasmussen Fischer, was born November 11, 1920, at her parents home near Walnut, Iowa and died May 1, 2008, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 87 years, 5 months, and 20 days.
Alta was baptized and confirmed at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Walnut. She grew up on a farm north of Walnut where she attended rural school. She then graduated from the Walnut High School with the Class of 1938. She took Normal Training, then taught rural schools in Shelby and Audubon Counties for 6 years. Alta met Glenn Petersen while he was entertaining with his band, the Melody Makers, at Altas parents 25th wedding anniversary in Corley, Iowa.
On February 10, 1946, she was united in marriage to Glenn E. Petersen at the Lutheran Church in Walnut. They started farming northeast of Exira, then purchased their own farm the following year. They operated a livestock and grain farm until they retired. Their son Roger continues to operate the farm. In 1981 Glenn and Alta built and moved into their home in Exira. They enjoyed their home and then moved to the Exira Care Center in August of 2006. Glenn died December 12, 2006.
Alta was a member of the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira and was a member of the Ladies Circle. She was a member of the OAO Club and several card clubs. She was an avid gardener. She enjoyed canning and preserving and serving the bounty from her garden. She enjoyed baking and crocheting and helping on the farm. Glenn and Alta enjoyed dancing and attended many dances in the surrounding areas.
Preceding her in death in addition to her husband were her grandson Chase A. Petersen; her parents; her father-in-law and mother-in-law: Arthur and Violet Petersen; her brothers: Virgil and his first wife Dorothy Fischer and his second wife Jean Fischer; Gerald and Erma Fischer; her sister: Naomi and husband Leon Christoffersen; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law: Virginia Petersen and Marvin Petersen.
  Survivors include her children: Roger and his wife Shelley Petersen of Exira; Faye and her husband William Osler of Rochester, MN; her grandchildren: Mallory Petersen, Chelsea Petersen and Zack Petersen, all of Exira; Gus Osler and Brenda Osler, both of Rochester; her sister-in-law Ardyce and her husband Robert Aagaard of Tavares, FL; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Honorary casket bearers will be grandchildren: Gus Osler, Brenda Osler, Mallory Petersen, Chelsea Petersen, and Zack Petersen. Casket bearers will be Dale Hackwell, Jon Hays, Jerry Fischer, Randy Fischer, Fred Muhr, and Tom Muhr.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery.

Visitation:
The family will meet friends Monday evening at 7:00 at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Ray Holmquist on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 2:00 P.M. at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, IA.