Lillian M. Peterson

Lillian Peterson, 96 year old resident of Brainerd, MN, formerly of Little Falls, MN and Duluth, MN died Friday, January 16 at the Good Samaritan Society-Bethany in Brainerd, MN. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, January 21 at 1:00 P.M. at the Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls, MN, with Rev. Roland Jennings officiating .The burial will be held in Oakland Cemetery in Little Falls, MN.A visitation will be held from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on Wednesday at the funeral home.

Lillian May Peterson was born April 15, 1918 in International Falls, MN to the late William C. and Ella May (Schnorr) Messerschmidt. At the age of one year, Lillian and her parents moved to Virginia, MN. She attended school in Virginia through the fourth grade. Her family moved to Kettle River, MN and later to Duluth, MN, where she attended school through the sixth grade. In 1930, her family moved to Cotton, MN and attended school through tenth grade. Lillian met Raymond Peterson and on August 28, 1937 they were united in marriage at Lillians parents home in Cotton, MN. The couple made their home in Cotton, MN, for a few years. They later moved to Duluth, MN, residing there for seven years.The couple returned to Cotton, MN, until moving to Little Falls, MN in 1971.The couple managed the Little Falls Golf course, where Lillian worked as the head cook.Her husband, Raymond died June 29, 1997.Lillian moved to Brainerd, MN residing there until her death.Lillian enjoyed cooking and baking. She served as Senior Regent of the Little Falls Moose Lodge and attended the Little Falls Christian and Missionary Alliance Church.

Left to cherish her memory are children, LaRae (Paul) Bakke of Anoka, MN, Dale (Jan) Peterson of Little Falls, MN, Linda (Dale) Hietala of Duluth, MN, LouAnn (Gene) Rands of Cotton, MN and Lori (Ken) Vopatek of Brainerd, MN; 9 grandchildren 19great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren and another on the way any day.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William C and Ella May Messerschmidt; husband, Raymond Peterson; brother, Vernon Messerschmidt; sisters, Emma Barber, Anna Peterson and Violet Burleigh and a granddaughter, Kari Schuster.

Casket Bearers will be her grandchildren: Tracy Peterson, Darren Hietala, Chris Rands, Dan Vopatek, Kevin Randall and Craig Kinsley.

Honorary Casket Bearers will be: Pete Brutcher and Ray Meyhoff.