- Date Of Birth: August 9, 1926
- Date Of Death: April 19, 2023
- State: Nebraska
Carol LaVona (Hanson) Petersen passed away at the Midwest Covenant Home in Stromsburg on Wednesday, April 19th, 2023 She was 96.
Carol was born August 9, 1926 in rural Stromsburg to Andrew and Alma (Swanson) Hanson, both immigrants from Sweden. Carol graduated from Stromsburg High School in 1943 and then attended business school in Omaha. She worked as a secretary at Britannica Books and the Butternut Bread Companies, both in Omaha. Carol and Glenn Petersen were married on February 3, 1946 at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Osceola, Nebraska. They lived in rural Bayard, Nebraska for one year and then moved to rural Stromsburg. Carol and Glenn had four children. Kay, Colin, Kristine (who died at age ten), and Jamalee. Carol’s family was the central focus of her life. She was devoted to her children and later her nine grandchildren and enjoyed attending their many events and performances.
Carol was an active member of the Salem Lutheran Church in Stromsburg participating in the Lutheran Ladies Circle, as a church board member, church quilting group member, and as a representative to the Lutheran Brotherhood. She was also a member of the Extension Club, the Square Dance Club, the Women’s Civic Improvement Club, and helped with Senior Center activities. Carol always had a garden and each fall she was busy canning and freezing the produce she had grown. Carol was the secretary for the Principal at Stromsburg High School before working from 1964-1987 as the bookkeeper at the Stromsburg Co-op. Many memories were created with the other employees, customers, neighbors, and friends. Carol enjoyed being an active participant in decision making and accounting on the farm which she loved.
Carol and Glenn enjoyed traveling both in the U.S. and Europe with friends and family. One of their biggest adventures was traveling to Sweden and Denmark to meet Carol’s and Glenn’s relatives that still lived there.
Carol enjoyed keeping the family history alive in photographs, and was an excellent hostess for large family dinners and holidays. She was an excellent cook and would often ask family members to “take a taste” to make sure everything was just perfect before serving it at the table. Ostkaka and Swedish Tea Ring were just a couple of her specialties!
Carol embraced life fully. She loved her Savior, Jesus, and her family and friends.
Carol is survived by daughters, Kay Mastel of Seward, Jami (Mark) Mendenhall of North Platte, son, Colin (LeAnn) Petersen of Stromsburg, eight grandchildren, Nathan (Kathy) Mastel, Noah (Barb) Mastel all of Lincoln, Zane (Michelle) Petersen of Stromsburg, Zach (Emily) Petersen of Hill City, South Dakota, Corey (Megan) Petersen of Burnsville, Minnesota, Emily (Brock) Wurl, and Katelyn (Josh) Sperle all of North Platte, and Adam (Emily Powell) O’Rourke of Centennial, Colorado, twenty great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
She was proceeded in death by her parents, husband Glenn in 2000, daughter Kristine in 1964, two sons-in-law, Leo Mastel and James O’Rourke, brothers, Myron, Raymond, and Milton Hanson, two sisters, Francis Holm, and Irene Adelson and two granddaughters, Ellen (Petersen) Douglas and Angela (Dendy) Petersen.
