Eldonna "Donna" Peterson

was born on October 8, 1935 to Eldon and Elsie Orange in Ruthton, Minnesota. She attended Ruthton School and graduated in 1953. She was married to Robert “Dale” Peterson on May 24, 1953 at the Methodist Church in Ruthton. To this union, they had three children. In March, 1954, they moved to a farm near Hadley, Minnesota for two years and then moved back to the Ruthton area and lived on a farm by Twin Lake, Minnesota. In 1964, they built a new home and moved into Ruthton where she continued to reside. Donna was admitted to the Pipestone County Medical Center on February 3, 2011 and was diagnosed with cancer on February 15, 2011. She entered the Sunrise Manor Nursing Home in Tyler, Minnesota and returned to her home on June 29, 2011. On August 5, 2011, she was admitted to Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. On August 12, 2011, she entered the Pipestone County Hospice House where she died on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at the age of 75 years, 11 months and 13 days.

Donna was a member of the Ruthton United Methodist Church and was a member of the Ruthton Ladies Legion Auxiliary. She worked at the local bowling alley for many years and the Polar Bar, where she could do her favorite thing in life, visit with friends. She loved her flowers and yard work, and was so happy when summer came and her grandkids would stay. She was an avid bowler and loved attending grandkids sporting events. All the local residents knew Donna enjoyed patrolling the streets of Ruthton.

She is lovingly remembered by her husband, Dale of Ruthton, Minnesota; her son, Brian of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; her daughter, Shari Wiese and her husband Rick of Ruthton, Minnesota; her son, Todd and Patty of Ruthton, Minnesota; five grandchildren, Terri, Troy, Keli, Kacie and Ashley; and six great-grandchildren, Darian, Mason, Daviney, Daynica, Briley and Tenley. She is also survived by one sister-in-law, Jean Gilbertson of Maple Grove, Minnesota and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
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