Amelia Erika Peterson's Obituary
Grand Rapids - Amelia E. Peterson, 98, passed away Monday, December 14, 2020 at her residence.
Amelia was raised on a farm on the outskirts of Lake Linden, Upper Peninsula of Michigan. She enjoyed school, writing, and was the first in her family to graduate from high school. After graduation she moved to Detroit, Michigan, where she worked for Fisher Body (GM), and then Grinnell Brothers.
In 1946 Amelia met Reuben Peterson from Calumet, in Detroit. They were married in 1947 on her parents' farm and then settled in Detroit to raise a family.
She had a variety of part time jobs to supplement income as their family grew. She worked in Hudson's Department Store, the local grade school cafeteria, and was a line editor for the Southfield Sun newspaper. They returned to the U.P. in 1975 and managed the Laurium Elders Home together before retiring.
They were members of the Apostolic Lutheran Church, where Amelia taught Sunday School classes. She enjoyed reading, Scrabble, crossword puzzles, and finding just the right words on a birthday card. Amelia and Reuben enjoyed berry picking together and she loved making pies, nisu, prune tarts and pasties.
In 1977 Reuben and Amelia were able to make a trip to visit relatives in Finland and Sweden. She returned to Finland for a reunion in 1998. Amelia lived a long and family-centered life.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, her parents Verner and Erika Sjoblom, her 6 siblings: Werner, Wilbert, Walfred, Sylvia, Wesley and Raymond, eldest son Glenn, and two grandsons.
Amelia is survived by her children, Carol (Dan) Van Der Woude, Joyce (David) Miller, Jerry (Tynan) Peterson, and Kris Peterson; seven grandchildren; and twelve great-grandchildren.
Burial will be in the spring at the Lake View Cemetery in Calumet. A private memorial service will be held then or at another date. Care and arrangements are entrusted to the Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids. Share a memory or express condolences at mohnkefuneralhome.com.
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