Evelyn J. Peterson

Rock Rapids, IA               Click Here to Watch Live Stream of Funeral Service

  Evelyn J. Peterson age 92 of Rock Rapids, IA, died Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at the Good Samaritan Society in Sioux Falls, SD.

  Funeral service will be 11:00 AM, Wednesday, September 4th, at Peace Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids, IA, with Rev. Alex Sloter officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids, IA. 

  Visitation will be Wednesday, September 4th, one hour prior to the service at Peace Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids.

Evelyn Peterson was born on November 24, 1931 at Adrian, Minnesota, the daughter of Frederick Heeren and Mattie Frey. At the age of 2 the family moved to Sibley, Iowa where Evelyn attended Sibley High School and graduated in 1949. Evelyn was united in marriage to Cline Schmidt on September 15, 1951 and to this union 6 children were born: Timothy, Rebecca, Daniel who died at birth, Mark, Mary, and Thomas. Evelyn later married William Weidler in 1972 and he passed away in 1975. After ten years, Evelyn moved to Rock Rapids, Iowa where she met and married Art Peterson in 1985. Art passed away in 1993 and Evelyn continued to live in Rock Rapids until 2016 when she moved to the Inn at Westport in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After a fall and a broken leg in October 2023, she moved to the Good Samaritan Luther Manor in Sioux Falls where she passed away on August 28, 2024. 

 Evelyn worked in the Agriculture Office in Sibley; served as a 4H Leader for many years; worked in the Sibley Post Office for several years before becoming Postmaster in Sanborn, Iowa. Evelyn baked and decorated many amazing cakes for weddings, birthdays, and graduations. She was a gifted painter and many of her paintings are in the homes of her children and grandchildren. Art and Evelyn wintered in Arizona for many years and after Art passed away, Evelyn continued to go to Arizona in the fall and winter until the early 2000’s. Evelyn was an active member of the Peace Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids during her time there. Besides her painting, Evelyn crocheted, quilted, puzzled and enjoyed meeting people and striking up conversations.

  Grateful for sharing her life are a brother Donald Heeren (Jeannie), Paullina, Iowa; children: Timothy Schmidt, Chico, Texas; Rebecca Bandy (Larry), Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Mark Schmidt (Susie), Chico, Texas; Mary Langworthy (Larry), Raleigh, North Carolina; Thomas Schmidt (Sarah), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; 11 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 9 great, great grandchildren and numerous step-children and step-grandchildren. 

 Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Mabel; her son Daniel and her husbands.