Ruth Peterson

Ruth L. Peterson of Waterville, MN, formerly of Nashua died Friday evening, April 22, 2011, at the Waseca Medical Center in Waseca, MN. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 27, 2011, at the United Methodist Church in Nashua with Pastor Scott Milsom, Central Presbyterian Church, Nevada, IA, and Rev. Okitakoyi Lundula officiating. Interment in Oak Hill Cemetery with Alden Peterson, Scott Messenger, John Kruse, David Peterson, Larry Schilling and Ron Fish serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Allen Peterson, Adrian Peterson, Aaron Peterson, Bill Scherer, Donald Wetzel, Ted Giannoni and Lee Shettle. Friends may greet the family an hour prior to the funeral at the church. Hugeback and Chenoweth Funeral Home, Nashua is in charge of arrangements. Ruth Laura Peterson was born October 9, 1919, in Charles City, IA, the daughter of Byron B. and Doris L. (Funk) Peterson. They resided in Waterloo before moving to a farm east of Nashua. She attended Northwest Christian College in Eugene, OR, and Gates Business College in Waterloo, after which she became a missionary for the Christian Church. She served in Zaire, Africa for 16 years. Upon her return from the mission field in 1970, she worked for the Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, before moving to Sioux Falls, SD, where she worked for the North American Baptist Seminary until her retirement. She then returned to Nashua to care for her parents until their deaths. Then she resided in Waverly and was a member of the First Christian Church in Cedar Falls. She moved to Indianapolis in May 2001 where she lived at Robin Run Retirement Home and became a member of the Downey Ave. Christian Church. She then moved to Traditions in Waterville, MN in December 2009 to be close to family. Survivors include one brother, Arnold (Ann) Peterson of Casa Grande, AZ; and a sister-in-law, Barbara Peterson of Knoxville, IA; eleven nieces and nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Marion Peterson Shepard and her husband Claud Shepard; a brother, Donald Peterson and three nieces, Susan Shepard Fish, Annette Peterson Messenger and Alice Peterson.