Linda Petersen
Svea
February 23, 1944 - September 20, 2012
Linda M. Petersen, 68, of Willmar, died Thursday, September 20, 2012, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar. Her funeral service will be 10:30 am, Tuesday, September 25, 2012 at Svea Lutheran Church in Svea. Visitation will be 5-8:00 pm, Monday at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar, www.hafh.org, and on Tuesday one hour prior to the service at the church.
Lin was born in Willmar, February 23, 1944. Her parents were Ruth E. and Wendell M. Anderson of south of Svea. She attended Blomkest School and graduated from Willmar High School in 1962. She attended Ridgewater College and St. Cloud State University with a major in elementary education.
On December 11, 1965, she was united in marriage to Matthew K. Petersen, of Willmar, in the Svea Lutheran Church. They were given the gift of being able to live 46 years and 10 months together. Their love and devotion to each other was rooted in a strong Christian faith and the importance of family.
Following her marriage, she and Matt lived in various locations when Matt was in the Army Security Agency working as a Vietnamese translator. They have many good memories of the time in the military during which they lived primarily in California and Texas. During the time Matt was in Viet Nam, she mailed him a letter every day. Following the service, they moved back to Willmar for a couple years and finally, in 1973, moved to the farm site near Svea that her grandparents homesteaded in 1906. She often referred to their hobby farm as “her piece of heaven.” Although Lin and Matt took their grandchildren to Disney World 4 times, and made other short trips, she wasn’t much interested in traveling in later years because she had everything she wanted where she lived: her home, family and friends. They were the proud owners of 3 horses, 1 donkey, 5 goats, some barn cats, a house cat and a corgi (“Tucker”) and a border collie.
Lin was active in the Svea Lutheran Church among other things serving as choir director for twenty years.
After their children entered school, she worked part time for Mel’s 7 & 71 Café; for Kandiyohi County as a home health aide and most recently as a paraprofessional at the Willmar High School in the DCD department. She felt it a privilege to be able to provide help to those that needed it.
Without question, her main calling in life was that of a mother. She believed that is why God put her on earth. Nothing was more important than family to her. She was an exemplary mother and wife. Her passing will leave a void that will never be filled, but her presence will forever be felt by her husband, children and family.
One of Lin’s major sources of pride was a family gospel group that performed programs for area churches. Lin was very musically talented and this Praise and Country Gospel Group was very rewarding for her and the family. Lin also enjoyed making greeting cards, “scrapbooking”, knitting, crocheting, horseback riding, camping with grandchildren, and other family activities.
She recently said “Through good times and tough times my loving family is always by my side. With that being said, “Life is good.”
Lin lost a valiant and brave twelve month fight against cancer. She was a model of strength for all who knew her during this battle. Surviving is her husband, Matt Petersen of Svea; their three children, Camilla Wenberg of Willmar, Andrea (and Lee) Meester of Cokato, and Dan (and Michelle) Petersen of St. Cloud; a brother, Larry (and Jann) Anderson of Watertown, a sister, Debra (and Roger) Mattson of Aberdeen; three grandchildren, Marny, Michael , and Carly Wenberg of Willmar, and two great grandchildren, Emily and Ashley Behrens and her special friend-in-faith, Taylar Sowers.
She was preceded in death by her parents and grandson, Andrew Meester.