Elizabeth "Betty" Peck

Elizabeth Marie (Cheesebrow) “Betty” Peck, 96-year-old resident of Little Falls, Minn., died Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Osakis, Minn. 

Time for visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at Emblom Brenny Funeral Service with recitation of the Rosary starting at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 1, 2024 at St. Mary's Church. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Father Patrick Hoeft officiating followed by a luncheon at the church. Betty will be interred at 3:00 p.m. at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls, next to her beloved husband, Jack. 

Betty was born September 27, 1927, to Nicholas and Martha (Claus) Cheesebrow in St. Paul, Minn. She graduated from Humboldt High School in 1945 and worked the next 13 years as a secretary at the St. Paul offices of Employment and Security; the American Cancer Society; Toltz, King & Day Architects (TKDA); and Western Electric. 

In 1955, while playing golf with her friend Kay on the second hole, a ball bounced into them. Several holes later, the long-ball hitter, Jack Peck, caught up to them and apologized. He invited Betty and Kay to play with them as a foursome to speed up play. Over a beverage in the clubhouse afterwards, he found out they had taken a streetcar to the golf course, so he offered to give them a ride home, and that’s how Betty and Jack met. Ten months later, on January 21, 1956, they were married. In 1959, Betty and Jack moved to Little Falls, Minn., where Jack began working at KLTF Radio Station, and where they raised their six children: Mike, Tom, Jonmarie, Lisa, Julie and Steve. 

Betty was kind and loving yet disciplined, a strong influence on her family. For four years while the kids attended school, Betty was the secretary at St. Mary’s Elementary School where she was loved by students and teachers. Best of all, she could walk to and from school with her children. 

Betty volunteered for several church, school and community organizations as well. She was secretary for the Hoopsters Club (now known as Flyer Athletic Boosters); she made VA hospital visits in St. Cloud, Minn., for the American Legion Auxiliary; she volunteered for the American Legion poppy sales and the American Cancer Society; and was neighborhood chair and county Red Cross secretary for more than eight years. 

She never slowed down. All the kids participated in athletics from fifth grade on, some through college, and she seldom missed a game. When all the kids were grown, she sat with Jack at Flyer home games and helped with the scorekeeping as Jack did the public address. 

Betty was a 20-year breast cancer survivor. Her faith and positive outlook on life went a long way in recovery. 

She and Jack loved the time at their cabin on the Gull River for 17 years. Betty always wanted to be an architect and, after selling both the cabin and their 8th Street home, she thoroughly enjoyed remodeling their retirement home on Riverview Drive, where they lived for 20 years. She loved to watch the workers in action, and every day she made sure the workplace was cleaned and ready to go for the next day. 

If it was sweet, Betty loved it… cookies, cake, ice cream or Klondike Bars. If Jack suggested they go out for dinner, she was ready in minutes. Betty never liked to cook but did a great job feeding her large family. Betty was a master in English and spelling. She had the most beautiful penmanship, and everyone looked forward to a letter or card from her. She did the family bookkeeping with perfection. And she always had a compliment to give. Although Jack was known for telling jokes, it was Betty’s sense of humor that kept the family laughing at all times, and that never went away. 

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, John Theodore “Jack” Peck, on Sept. 23, 2023; parents, Nicholas and Martha Cheesebrow; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Nick (Marge) and Jerry (Dorothy); and Jack’s sisters and brothers-in-law, Geri (Don) Twedt; Judy (Kevin) Kampsen; Jackie Gryc; and Margaret Alice (Ron) Steave. 

Betty is survived by her children, Michael “Mike” (Therese) Peck of Alexandria, Minn.; Thomas “Tom” (Sue) Peck of Sauk Centre, Minn.; Jonmarie (Peter) Wagner of Eagan, Minn.; Elizabeth “Lisa” (Jim) Rebrovich of Big Lake, Minn.; Julie (Scott) Schulz of Cloquet, Minn.; and Steve (Vicky) Peck of Las Vegas, Nev. Betty is also survived by 18 grandchildren, Amanda (Andrew) Peck-Ouellette, Emily (Brian) Tuttle and Mitchell Peck; Jessica, Matthew (McKenzie), Brian (Rana Martinez) and Christine Peck; Michelle (Evan) Spangenberg, Nicole (Nick) Welter, Steven, David and Anna Wagner; Sara and John Rebrovich; Nathaniel (Anna) Schulz and Katie (Lucas) Pfaffe; and Claire and Michael (Victoria) Peck; nine great-grandchildren, Myla, Jack and Greta, Will and Madelyn, Hazel and Madelynn, Payton, and William, with two more on the way; as well as cousins, nieces and nephews. 

The family would like to thank Bridgeway Estates and Moments Hospice for their loving and attentive care. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the American Red Cross or the American Cancer Society. 

Emblom Brenny Funeral Service is Cherishing the Memory and Celebrating the Life of Betty.