Cheryl Lynn Pettersen

Cheryl L. "Cherie" Pettersen, age 78, passed away peacefully at her home in Minneapolis on December 4, 2025. Born on May 25, 1947, in Hawley, Minnesota, Cheryl was the daughter of Norris and June (Doran) Pettersen. She grew up in Hawley and graduated from Hawley High School in 1965. A gifted linguist with a deep curiosity about the world, Cheryl studied French at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, completing a year abroad at the Sorbonne in Paris before graduating in 1969. She continued her academic pursuits at the International Summer School in Oslo in 1974 and later, as a Fulbright Scholar in Romania, where she studied women poets from 1976 to 1978. Her love of literature, language, and culture shaped both her life and her career. Cheryl devoted her professional life to teaching French. She began her career in Mankato, Minnesota, and later spent many years at East High School in Duluth, where she inspired generations of students with her passion for language and culture. She also shared her expertise in French while teaching at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth before retiring. An avid traveler and lifelong explorer, Cheryl found joy in immersing herself in the cultures she loved-especially France and Romania. She was a true Francophile who returned to France many times throughout her life, including many winter getaways to the Côte d'Azur. Cheryl was also a gifted chef. Known for her beautifully prepared dinners featuring French and Romanian cuisine, she delighted in bringing people together around a table. She frequently lent her culinary talents to friends and family, catering celebrations and special occasions with generosity and her signature sense of fun. Cheryl was preceded in death by her parents, Norris and June Pettersen; her brother, James Pettersen; and her nephew, Jeffrey Schroeder. She is survived by her sister, Roberta "Bobbi" (Gary) Schroeder; her sister-in-law, Sandra Pettersen; nephews Joel Schroeder and Jamie Pettersen; nieces Sara (Ryan) Soroka and Leslie (Scott) Beadle; one grandniece and four grandnephews; as well as her close friends and chosen family, who enriched her life and were enriched by her presence. A celebration of Cheryl's life will be held in early 2026. If you wish to send a memorial, please direct it to the scholarship fund at Language & Friendship, an organization founded by a dear friend that she supported for its work in promoting knowledge of other languages and cultures. Language & Friendship https://languageandfriendship.com Send checks to: Language & Friendship 8011 34th Ave S Suite C30 Bloomington, MN 55425

Tributes

Cheryl Lynn Pettersen

May 25, 1947 - December 4, 2025

Tributes

Cheryl Lynn Pettersen

May 25, 1947 - December 4, 2025

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