Laura M. Petersen, 99

Laura M. Petersen, 99, of Blair, died Monday, March 10, 2008, at Crowell Memorial Home in Blair.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 13, at the Herman Community Church. Interment will be in the Herman Cemetery.

Visitation will be from noon until 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

Laura May Stokes was born Aug. 2, 1908, in Herman to J.P. and Maude (Arnold) Stokes. She grew up on the family farm, west of Herman and graduated with the Class of 1927.

She was a longtime member of the Methodist Church.

On Sept. 1, 1929, she married Peter Albert “Ab” Petersen of Herman at the Stokes family home.

The couple lived and farmed in the Hill Creek and New England areas. As a farm wife, she took care of the home, helped with chores, and raised chickens, ducks and geese. She always had a garden, canned fruits and vegetables, prepared preserves and jellies, and baked many goodies.

She belongs to the Extension Club, American Legion Auxiliary, card clubs, and cherished time with her parents, sibling and their families.

She had a varied work history, working at both the Lutheran and University hospitals in Omaha, the Freeman Café in Herman, and the Wilkinson Manufacturing Company at Fort Calhoun.

She was a strong and dedicated lady to her family and friends.

Mr. and Mrs. Petersen had five sons. After the sudden death of their daughter-in-law, they opened their home to two grandsons. After the remarriage of their father, the two grandsons returned to live with their father.

Mrs. Petersen is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Earl and Petty Petersen of Arlington, Va., and Curtis and Marilyn Petersen of Carrollton, Texas; two daughters-in-law, Neva Petersen of Stroudsburg, Penn., and Joline Petersen of Gulfport, Miss.; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Mardelle Wulf; brother and sister-in-law, Earl and Doris Stokes, all of Blair and sister-in-law, LaVerne Stokes of Fremont.

She was preceded in death by husband, Ab; three sons, Donald Petersen Sr., Ralph Petersen, and Clifford Petersen; one grandson, Donald Petersen Jr.; five brothers, Shirley “Jay” Stokes, Charles “Lester” Stokes, James Stokes, Jay “Junior” Stokes, Jr., and Louis Stokes; two sisters, Marjorie Katt and Luella Rolfs; two brothers-in-law; four sisters-in-law; and two daughters-in-law.

Memorials are suggested to the Herman Community Church or Crowell Memorial Home Chapel.