Obituary of Dorothy Mae Peterson

Dorothy Mae Peterson, 89, passed away peacefully, Jan. 5, 2015 at Essentia-St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth. Dorothy was born Sept. 22, 1925 to Otis and Carrie Porter of Grayling, Minn. She attended McGregor High School, Duluth Teachers College, and University of Duluth where she graduated with a teaching degree. Her first teaching position was in Riverton, Minn., then Nashwauk, Minn., and then spent 29 years teaching elementary grades in Floodwood, Minn. Dorothy married Norman Peterson on Sept. 21, 1951, and they made Floodwood, Minn., their home. They raised three sons and she helped Norman on several business ventures including a John Deere dealership, a Ford Dealership, the Frolic drive inn restaurant, a peat moss harvesting and sales business, and an interstate trucking company, while teaching full time. After retiring from teaching in 1988, she obtained a real estate license and worked for Lil Stocke Realty and Edina Realty in Duluth. She enjoyed many hobbies, reading, bowling, golf, gardening, cooking and baking, and was a member of the Horticulture Club of Duluth. She traveled to most of the United States, including Alaska, and to Europe. She enjoyed and followed political issues and was a lifelong Democrat. Her no nonsense approach to solving world problems were often published in the letters to the editor section of the Duluth News Tribune. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Otis and Carrie Porter; one brother, Jim Porter; and one sister, Ruth Hasner. She is survived by her three sons, Scott Peterson of Floodwood, Minn., Kevin (Kim) Peterson of Rochester, Minn., and Jamie (Tammy) Peterson of Floodwood, Minn.; grandchildren, Danielle Peterson of Denver, Colo.. Kristopher (Kami) Peterson of Minneapolis, Erica (Tim) Wennes of Kasson, Minn., Houston Peterson of Dodge Center, Minn., Tara (Aaron) Jarvenpa of Superior, Wis., and Tasha (Erik Lull) Belter of Superior, Wis.; great-grandchildren Arianna, Siri, McKenna, Ethan, Mason and Silas; and several nieces and nephews and their families. The family would like to give a special thanks to Melinda, Pam, Tabatha, and Debbie for all their loving care. Dorothy had many great friends including Helen Snyder and "Bo", her Golden Retriever. MEMORIAL SERVICE: 1 p.m. Jan. 17, 2015 with a visitation at 12 Noon in Hope Lutheran church in Floodwood, Minn. There will be a luncheon following the service at the Rich Event Center in Floodwood.