Lois Peterson, age 87 of Braham, passed away surrounded by her family on Thursday, March 16, 2017.
Lois was born on her parents’ farm in Arago, MN, on July 14, 1929. She was baptized as an infant and confirmed on June 13, 1943, at St John’s Lutheran Church in Park Rapids. Lois married Oscar W. Peterson, Jr. at her parents’ farm on May 28, 1949. Lois attended Teacher Training in Park Rapids and began teaching in rural schools near Itasca State Park. She stopped teaching for a number of years to raise her four children. She completed her teaching degree at St. Cloud State in 1970 and taught in schools near Braham until her retirement. Lois loved being outdoors working in her garden, camping at a State Park or biking a trail and would comment on how great the air smelled in the county of her birth when she was outdoors in northern Minnesota. She loved to bake bread and would quadruple the recipe so there were loaves of bread, various shaped buns, and cinnamon and caramel rolls for everyone to enjoy. She was creative in thinking of games to play with her grandchildren and would never say no to a game of whist. If her grandchildren interviewed her for a school project, she would always say her love of God was the most important thing in her life. She was a Sunday School teacher for many years and led the life she taught her Sunday School students. She was humble and giving and surprised her family every day with the pop culture answers she knew to a crossword puzzle.
Lois was preceded in death by her husband, Oscar, and her parents, Victor and Martha Olson (Hemmerich).
She is survived by sons John (DeeAnn) and Steve (Ann); daughters Andrea Bruce and Krisann (Jim) McMahon; grandchildren Heather (Bruce), John (Mindee), Katrina, Keegan, Connor and Jordan; great-grandchildren Samantha (Ryan), Tyler, Mason, Ashlyn and Aidan; sister Ardys Brensike; brother Vic (Bette) Olson; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 23, at 11 a.m. at Braham Evangelical Lutheran Church. Visitation Wednesday, March 22 from 5-7 p.m. at Rock-Ingebrand Chapel and one hour before service at the church on Thursday. Interment will be at the Rice Lake Cemetery. Memorials preferred to Allina Hospice Music Therapy, Alzheimer’s Association or Meals on Wheels. Condolences may be posted to www.aifuneralhome.com.