Betty Louise Peterson

Peterson, Betty Louise 80, died on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at her home in Coon Rapids, MN. She is survived by her son Richard and wife Melanie Peterson; her son Randall and husband Michael Clegg-Butt; her daughter Suzanne and husband Scott Peterson; nine grandchildren including Nathan Peterson, Megan Peterson, Kelsey (Peterson) Schaum, Nicholas Peterson, David Staneslow, Rebecca Staneslow, Jacob Wedge, Julia Wedge, and Joshua Wedge; and three great grandchildren Finley, Rowan, and Gemma Peterson. Born in Elizabeth Township near Fergus Falls, Minnesota, the eldest child of Herbert and Elsie (Boeder) Stroschein. She later became sister to Doris (Stroschein) Wersinger, Marilyn (Stroschein) Folden, Lavonne (Stroschein) Johansen, Arnold (Karol) Stroschein, and Joyce (Stroschein) Duenow. She was raised on a farm in Elizabeth Township, MN, and lived most of her adult life in Coon Rapids and Oak Grove, Minnesota. In her early years, Betty had a number of jobs, most notably weeding the flower beds for neighbors. After graduating from high school in 1959, she married her high school sweetheart, David Harold Peterson and started a family. They moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota to attend the University of North Dakota together. David graduated with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1964. Betty dropped out after a year to care for their son and earn enough to put David through University. After UND, the family moved briefly to St. Paul and then Coon Rapids where Betty cared for her family, taking jobs as needed to get the family through financial challenges. Betty later went back to School and received an Associates Degree from Anoka Ramsey Community College. As David's career blossomed, she added the role of corporate wife, working to support his career success. Together they travelled to the six inhabited continents, met Presidents and Prime Ministers, got to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and even had a near-miss with a stampede of elephants in South Africa. Throughout her entire life, Betty was a passionate gardener. Betty's ambition was to create a world- class garden, even at one point moving to a new home with a better location for her garden. She dug up and moved to the new location, which become a major feature article in the magazine Midwest Home & Design. Betty's garden is not only loved by the family, but was often open for tours, and featured repeatedly through 'Art in the Garden.' The garden won numerous awards including the Tony Welsbacher Award for Best Gold Hosta in a National Convention Garden. She gardened as long as her body allowed, and after that directed others, including her husband David, her children, and grandchildren. Despite their individual successes, the most important thing to both Betty and David was helping other people realize their dreams. Betty supported many aspiring gardeners with her achievements, free plants, and lots of helpful advice. She also purchased and then donated environmentally sensitive land to the DNR. She especially found meaning in being the matriarch of the family helping her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to continue her efforts to make the world a better place by ensuring the family had the necessary values and education. Her legacy of environmental action and help for others who aspire to such goals lives on through her family. Memorial Service Sunday Nov. 6 at 11:00 AM with visitation 1 hour prior to service at: Washburn-McReavy.com Coon Rapids Chapel 763-767-1000 1827 Coon Rapids Blvd.

Tributes

Betty Louise Peterson

April 11, 1942 - October 26, 2022

Tributes

Betty Louise Peterson

April 11, 1942 - October 26, 2022

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