Retha M. Petersen, 66

Retha M. Petersen, formerly Retha Sutherland, 66, of Muskogee, Okla., died March 10, 2004, after a long illness. A memorial service was held March 13, at Christian Chapel in Muskogee, Okla.

Retha M. Plum was born in Imogene, Iowa, on July 8, 1937, to Effie and Leroy Plum.

She married Dar Sutherland and, during their 26 years of marriage, they lived in Blair, and raised three children, Michelle, Ty and Roger. The family enjoyed camping, fishing and traveling together.

She attended Metro Tech and received her LPN License. She enjoyed caring for the elderly while working at the Tekamah Nursing Home and the geriatric care facility at Immanuel Hospital in Omaha.

She later married Clifford Petersen of Herman, and resided in Blair until his death in 1994. She then moved to Oklahoma to be near her mother.

Mrs. Petersen had seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. They could always count on "Granny" for a good game of marbles, Racko or Yahtzee.

She is survived by her three children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild; her mother and step-father, Effie and George Smith; three brothers and four sisters; step-mother, Laura Petersen of Blair, and special friend, Leland Clement.

She was preceded in death by one sister and her father.

Memorials are suggested to the American Lung Association.