Stella Sather Peterson

Marshall: Stella Sather Peterson, age 101, of Marshall, passed away at the Prairie Home Hospice House on Friday, November 8, 2013. Memorial services will be 1:00 P.M. Monday, December 9th at Christ United Presbyterian Church. Visitation will be 3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. Sunday, December 8th at Hamilton Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Vesta City Cemetery. Stella was born June 27, 1912, at her parent's farm home near Madison, MN, the daughter of Sigfred and Alice Sather. She attended rural school through 8th grade and graduated from Madison High School in 1930. After a year of teacher training, Stella taught in two rural schools in Lac qui Parle County.
In 1941 she graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse. She then worked as a nurse at the U of M Hospital in Minneapolis and Midway Hospital in St. Paul.
Stella met her future husband, Kenneth A. Peterson, when she was a senior student nurse and he was in medical school. They were married in September, 1941. After Kenneth's fellowship at Midway Hospital and a stint in the army for World War II, they made their home in Marshall, MN, where Dr. Peterson joined Dr. F.D. Gray in his medical practice in 1947.
Stella became an active member of the community by being a Boy Scout and Girl Scout leader; a Sunday School and Bible School teacher; a member of several church committees locally and statewide; a nurse for the Red Cross Bloodmobile; and a member of Study Club, Eastern Star, PEO, MAFAC, and bridge groups.
Kenneth and Stella traveled extensively and spent winters in Arizona until Ken's death in 2007.
Stella loved her family and extended family, a love that was returned tenfold. She had many friends of all ages. Some of her favorite hobbies were reading, playing bridge, doing word games, and birding. Laughter, jokes, and opinions were freely given. In her younger years, she enjoyed horseback riding, x-c skiing, bicycling, swimming, and hiking.
Survivors include two brothers, Stan Sather of Madison, MN, and Donald (Kay) Sather of Denver, CO; two sisters, Florence Cogswell of Brooklyn Center, MN, and LaVonne (Thomas) Moore of Delaware, Ohio; two daughters, Jan (Jim) Leffler of Sioux Falls, SD, Lynne (Johannes) von Trapp of Stowe, VT; one son Philip (Sheree) Peterson of Bayfield, WI; three grandchildren, Kristina (Walter) von Trapp Frame; Sam (Elisa) von Trapp; and Emily Peterson; and two great granddaughters, Stella and Annie Frame. Stella was predeceased by her parents and three brothers, Orville, Elwood, and Fred.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Prairie Home Hospice, 408 East Main Street #8, Marshall, MN 56258. http://prairiehomehospice.org; Marshall Area Fine Arts Center (MAFAC), 109 N 3rd St, Marshall, MN 56258. http://www.mafac.net; Christ United Presbyterian Church, 400 West Lyon St, Marshall, MN, 56258; or an organization of your choice.