Malvina M. Peterson

Malvina M. Peterson

Malvina M. Peterson, 95, of Fort Dodge, died Sunday, February 11, 2007 at the Trinity Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, February 16, 2007 at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church with the Rev. David Grindberg officiating.  Interment will follow in the St. Olaf Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 4 until 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Bruce-Graham Funeral Home and Cremation Center.

Malvina was born July 30, 1911 the daughter of William T. and Olive (Haney) McLaughlin in Manson, IA.  She later graduated from normal training at the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, IA.  Malvina began teaching the 5th and 6th grades in the mid 60s at Prairie Valley Community School.  Following her retirement she continued to substitute for several years. 

On July 5, 1931 Malvina was united in marriage to Tanner S. Peterson at her parents home in Manson.  To this union 11 children were born.

Over the years Malvina worked extremely hard raising her family but would have had it no other way.  She did find time to sew, crochet and tat for her family and friends.  Malvina made her own soap, had a large garden and canned her bountiful harvest all summer long.  She loved to travel, go fishing and visiting her family.  Malvina had a strong faith and was very active in numerous church activities.  Malvina was a member of the St. Olaf Lutheran Church, D.A.R., Colonial Dames, Eastern Star, River Valley Rock Hound Club, Ladies of the Moose and the Iowa Retired Teachers Association.

Those thankful for having shared in Malvinas life include her children; Tanner Peterson, Huntington Beach, CA, Eleanor (Don) Halligan of Fort Dodge, William (Janice) Peterson of Moorland, Margaret (Bill) McDermott of Fort Dodge, Karel (Don) Holmes of Des Moines, Jim Peterson of Fort Dodge, John (Lynette) Peterson of Fort Dodge, Oli (Jim) Cooper of Auburn, CA, Mary Vonnahme of Fairbanks, AK, and Don Peterson of Fort Dodge, three sisters; Judy Webb of Rockwell City, Georgia (Walter) Pierce of Lake City, Dorothy Houston of Roosevelt, Utah, and one brother William McLaughlin of Florida, 37 grandchildren, 67 great grandchildren, and 20 great-great grandchildren.

Mrs. Peterson was preceded in death by her parents, husband, 6 sisters; Mary Cooper Behrends, Margaret Kleen, Olive Webb, Lillie McLaughlin, Helen Lange, Nellie Bergerson, one daughter; Karen Bruce, and one grandson Marc Bruce.

Bruce-Graham Funeral Home