Mary Ann Peterson

Mary Ann Peterson, the oldest of eleven children of Harry and Gladys Jensen Bald, was born December 9, 1930, at the home of her grandparents, George and Ida Bald, in Lincoln Township, Audubon County, Iowa and died January 24, 2012, at the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 81 years, 1 month, and 15 days. Mary Ann was baptized by the Trinity Lutheran Church Minister at her grandparent’s home in Lincoln Township. She attended Audubon Community Schools. At the age of 17 she leased a café in Atlantic, Iowa called “The Rainbow”, and made it a successful business. Later Mary Ann met LeRoy William Peterson. Mary Ann moved back to Audubon. On March 9, 1949, she was united in marriage to LeRoy William Peterson at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Four daughters were born to this union. They bought a piece of land in west Audubon where they built their home. Mary Ann worked at various restaurants in the Audubon area, The Victory Café, The Holiday and The Hamburger Shop. She also was employed as a cook at the school and the Friendship Home. LeRoy always had a large vegetable garden and Mary Ann would spend all summer canning the fruits of his labor. LeRoy died October 13, 1984. Mary Ann resided in her home until she moved to the Friendship Home in January of 2007. Mary Ann was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon. She was known as a very caring woman, mother, grandma, and great grandma. Still to this day Mary Ann is regarded as a wonderful cook with love being the key ingredient, as the grandchildren would say, all the way down to her peanut butter toast. Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband LeRoy William Peterson; her daughter Susan Marie Lebeck, her parents Harry and Gladys Bald; her brothers Merlin Bald, Darrell Bald; her sister Elaine Bald and her special friend Margaret Canter(Tucky); her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Robert (Bob) and wife Shirley Spencer, Laverne Peterson, and Marge Turner. Survivors include her daughters Elrane and husband Mark McMillan of LeMars, Iowa, Sheryl and husband Rod Benton and Julie and husband Randy Wegner all of Audubon, Iowa; her grandchildren Brad McMillan of Des Moines, Iowa, Scott McMillan of Denver, Colorado, Todd and wife Iliana Lebeck of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Troy and wife Kate Lebeck of Audubon, Jami Benton of Ankeny, Iowa, Jeremy and wife Mallory Benton of Polk City, Iowa, Staci Benton-Deist and special friend DJ Good of Ankeny, Justin and wife Katie Wegner of Audubon, Kristi and husband Jason Bock of Denison, Iowa, Stephanie and husband Jed Kasperbauer of Dedham, Iowa, Eric Wegner and special friend Brooke Andersen both Audubon; 17 great grandchildren; her brothers and sisters Alvie and wife Sandra Bald, Dallas and wife Doris Bald, Delores and husband Gary Walters, Gary and wife Joanne Bald all of Audubon, Judy and husband Jack Burns of Glidden, Iowa, Karen and husband Wayne Heuss and Connie and husband Marcel Fett all of Audubon; her sisters-in-law Gail Bald of Audubon and Joyce Bald of Cameron, Missouri; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon, Iowa.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends on Thursday evening, January 26, 2012, at 6:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steven Frock on Friday, January 27, 2012, at 2:00 P.M. at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon, Iowa.