Edna C Peterson

Edna graduated from Denfeld High School in 1940 as the Art Director of the Oracle. Edna was a talented artist and created hundreds of beautiful landscape oil paintings over the years. In 1945, Edna moved to California to live with her sister, Ellen; she worked as a photocolorist at Austin’s Photo Studio in LA. When she returned to Duluth to care for her parents in 1955, she continued to color photos at Power’s, Fifield, Grandmaison’s, and Lynette’s Portrait Design. Edna enjoyed spending time with her brothers’ families at the “Shack in the Back” on Hanging Horn Lake in Barnum. Edna joined Elim Lutheran Church when she was 5 years old, and she remained a cornerstone member for 90 years. She served on WELCA, led the Mary Martha Circle, sang in the choir, and accompanied her nieces and nephews on the guitar when they sang for church. As a member of the Elim church council, Edna met her soulmate, Harland Peterson. They were married in 1980 when Edna was 57 years old. Together, they traveled to Sweden, Hawaii, and China. They also went on many enjoyable trips to visit Harland’s daughters.

Edna often sang, “One day at a time, sweet Jesus,” and we watched these words comfort her through the last months of her life. Everyone who met Edna, even just briefly, will lovingly remember her humor, her Swedish sayings, her common reminders to “Take five deep breaths,” and the unwavering faith that inspired her uplifting spirit.

Edna was preceded in death by her husband, Harland Peterson; parents, Fred and Charlotte Sandberg; and siblings, Walter (Clare) Sandberg, Ellen (Harold) Ray, and Wilbert Sandberg.

Edna is survived by her stepchildren, Harlean Anderson, Kathy (George) Gushiken, and Donna (John) Hansen; sister-in-law, Deloris Sandberg; nieces and nephews, Walter Jr. (Erminee) Sandberg, Marsha (Ronald) Pearson, Rian Ray, Kevin Ray, Leslie Ray, Valorie Paro, Pamela (Benjamin) Hodgkins, Jennifer (Thomas) Osborne and their families; many step-grandchildren and great grandchildren; dearest friend, Betty Carlson; and her church family at Elim.

We would like to thank the employees of Solvay for recognizing how wonderful Edna was and for providing her such phenomenal care at the end of her life.

Visitation will be from 10-11 am, followed by the Funeral Service at 11:00 am, Monday, August 28th, at Elim Lutheran Church in Duluth.

Please leave a memory of Edna or words of support for her family at www.bellbrothersfuneralhome.com