Evelyn Ruth Petersen

Evelyn Ruth Petersen, the daughter of Gerald and Lillie Hansen Nelson, was born April 9, 1921, at her parents home west of Exira, Iowa and died September 16, 2010, at the Community Care Center in Stuart, Iowa at the age of 89 years, 5 months, and 7 days.
Evelyn was baptized and confirmed at St. Johns Lutheran Church west of Exira. She attended rural school west of Exira then graduated from the Exira High School with the Class of 1938. During High School she studied Normal Training which prepared her to teach school. She taught country school, the Oakfield School west of Exira for several years.
On February 24, 1943, she was united in marriage to Leo C. Petersen at the Christian Church Parsonage in Atlantic, Iowa. They rented farms for several years before they purchased their farm west of Brayton, Iowa. Evelyn helped Leo farm. She enjoyed living on the farm, where she always had a large vegetable garden and a special flower garden. Evelyn began to volunteer at the Exira Care Center and then later became the Activities Director for many years. They retired from farming in 1983, but continued to live on the farm. During retirement they enjoyed traveling and spending time with their family, especially the grandchildren. Leo died on February 8, 2001. Evelyn purchased a home in Atlantic where she lived before she moved to Allen House in November of 2006. She moved to the Community Care Center in Stuart in May of 2010.
Evelyn was a long time, active member of the Exira Lutheran Church and was a member of the Exira Garden Club. When she moved to Atlantic she became a member of the United Church of Christ and was a member of the Quilting Group. Evelyn was an accomplished pianist and enjoyed playing for church services and entertaining at Allen House.
Preceding her in death in addition to her husband Leo; were an infant daughter Karen Petersen; her parents; her brother LaVerne Nelson and her sister Doris and husband Vernon Johnk; her brothers-in-law and sister-in-law: Nels Petersen, Leona Petersen, Elmer Petersen, and James Petersen.
Survivors include her children Janice Reiter of Mount Vernon, Iowa, Dean and wife Debbie Petersen of Earlham, Iowa, and Steven Petersen of Carroll, Iowa; her grandchildren Billy and wife Tara Reiter-Marolf of Granger, Iowa, Tanya Yetmar of Earlham and her children: James Lineweaver and Kara Wetrich and their son James Lineweaver II, Chase Yetmar and Carter Yetmar, Eric and wife Melissa Petersen of Belton, Texas and their children Vanessa, Jessica, and Mason, Jeremy and wife Nichole Petersen of Earlham and their sons Grant and Jeret, Christopher Petersen of Des Moines, Iowa, Tasha Petersen of San Francisco, California, Andrew Petersen of Carroll and Annelise Petersen of Council Bluffs, Iowa; her sisters-in-law: Wanda Nelson and Ruth Petersen both of Exira, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery west of Exira, Iowa at 1:30 P.M.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends on Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 4:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Nancy Jensen on Monday, September 20, 2010 at 10:30 A.M. at the United Church of Christ in Atlantic, Iowa.