Darlene Petersen

Darlene Mae Sothman was born December 31, 1921, the youngest child of Ernest Frederick and Sarah Esther (Cooper) Sothman on the family farm in Cass County, Iowa, and passed away Monday, August 12, 2013, at the Heritage House in Atlantic, Iowa.

She attended the country school at Pringey Noble #1 and rode the Calvin Lindeman school bus from Lyman to Atlantic High School, graduating in 1939. At the age of 15, Darlene contracted infantile paralysis and missed over two months of school.

She was employed for over five years at Proctor's General Store in Lyman. Darlene was married to Arnold L. Petersen on September 28, 1946, after he returned from serving in the Army in the South Pacific during World War II. They farmed in the Lyman vicinity all of their married life. Arnold passed away suddenly from a heart attack on June 24, 1983. Darlene continued to live on the farm for nearly five years, then moved to Atlantic on south Chestnut Street. In 2011 she moved to the Heritage House.

Darlene was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ south of Lyman and was active in the women's fellowship of the church. She loved the out of doors, her yard, garden and flowers. Both on the farm, and while living in Atlantic, she belonged to several clubs.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Arnold Petersen; brother, Vergal Sothman; sisters, Leona Johnson and Clara Sunderman; brothers-in-law, Ted Johnson, Orval Sunderman, Art Petersen and Lloyd Petersen; sisters-in-law, Marjorie Sothman, Berdele Petersen, Lois Petersen and Eleanor Petersen; and grand-nephew, Ronald Sunderman.
Darlene is survived by her nieces and nephews, Ken (Sharon) Sunderman of Bella Vista, Arkansas, DeWayne Sunderman of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Dale (Sheryl) Sunderman of Atlantic, Iowa, David Sunderman of Bentonville, Arkansas, Barb (Jim) Waters of Cumberland, Iowa, Richard (Joyce) Johnson of Chicago, Illinois, Dennis (Sharon) Petersen of Burnsville, Minnesota, Donna Smith of Omaha, Nebraska, Diane Cremo of LaMesa, California, Deb (Ted) Drefs of Omaha, Nebraska, Denise Miller of LaMesa, California, Cheryl (Wes) Siebrass of Springfield, Illinois, Arland Petersen of Adair, Iowa, and Milton Petersen of Savannah, Georgia; many great nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the family for designation later.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. with funeral services at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 17, 2013, at Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic, Iowa.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.