Dorothy Lucille Peterson

Born January 22, 1918, to parents Nels and Ann (Maas) Nelson in Duluth, MN, she attended Duluth schools, graduating in 1935 from Duluth Central High School. In high school she sang in the choir. At the age of seven, she and her brother and three sisters enrolled in Sunday school at Trinity Lutheran Church. She has been a confirmed member since 1932. She taught Sunday school and sang in the church choir for many years.

After graduating high school, she went to work as secretary/bookkeeper at C.Z. Wilson Uniform Co. She also worked for Associated Loan Co. from 1939 to 1942. Dorothy met her husband-to-be, Howard Peterson, during the depression years. They were married on July 3, 1937. In 1942, when Howard joined the U.S. Navy and went to war, she went east to Brooklyn, NY and Newport, RI while he trained for overseas duty. She returned to Duluth when he left for duty in the Pacific. After WWII, they made their home in Duluth, raising three daughters and one son.

From 1962-1963 they operated a small business—Seaway Heating. In 1964 she went to work as a bookkeeper for Aero Supply & Equipment Co. until 1985. She then worked for Architects IV, as bookkeeper from 1985 to retirement in 2001.

Her hobbies were sewing, music, and growing many varieties of African violets. She made all the girls’ clothes while they were in elementary school, and made many formal gowns, for several different occasions, while they were in high school. She also made the bridesmaids’ and flower girl’s dresses for one daughter’s wedding. From age 14, and throughout her life, she continued to sew her own clothes.

She is preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, husband Howard, grandson Richard Swanson, brother Robert Nelson, sister Grace Bartash, sisters–in law, Lois Nelson and Alice Nelson, and brothers-in-law Jerome Bartash and Wilbur Callen.

She is survived by son Dean (Vicki), daughters Kathleen (Terrance) Morehouse, Nancy and Barbara, grandsons Daniel (Jessica) Olsen, Dennis (Laurel) Olsen, Mark (Deborah) Swanson, Bradley (Cassandra) Peterson, Dean (Stephanie) Peterson, eight great-grandchildren, and sisters Lois Nelson and Eileen Nelson.

Visitation: 10a.m. until the 11 a.m. Funeral Service, Tuesday, September 6 in Trinity Lutheran Church, 1108 E 8th St, Duluth.

Please leave a memory of Dorothy or words of support for the family at www.bellbrothersjarvidowd.com.