Adeline Hazel Peterson

Adeline Hazel Peterson (nee Zimpel), 90, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 18, 2016 in Meridian, Idaho.

A memorial service will be held at the First Lutheran Church, 641 2nd Ave. N. in Glasgow, Montana on Thursday, June 9 at 2:00 PM with Pastor Scott Hedegaard officiating. Internment to follow at the Glasgow Highland Cemetery.

Adeline was born on October 5, 1925 in Princeton, Minnesota to George Henry Zimpel and Wilhelmina “Erna” Kuether Zimpel. She grew up on the Princeton farm and at age nine helped raise her younger siblings after her mother passed away at age 36.

Adeline attended school in Princeton and Little Falls, Minnesota and then worked as a typesetter for 3M and a telephone operator with Western Union in Minneapolis, Minnesota and in Los Angeles, California.

On June 10, 1950 Adeline married ex U.S. Marine Eugene Allen Peterson in Minneapolis. They moved to Montana where Gene worked for the Great Northern Railroad, (later Burlington Northern) as a station agent. They lived for a short time in Glasgow, Harlem and Snowden, and then for 34 years in Richland, Montana. In 1989 they retired to Glasgow where Gene passed away in 1990. Adeline continued to live in Glasgow until 2012 when she moved to Meridian, Idaho to be near her family.

Gene and Adeline had three children, Steven born in 1951 in Glasgow, Sally born in 1953 in Williston, North Dakota, and Don born in 1960 in Scobey, Montana.

Adeline was a devoted mother and homemaker and in 1961 she also began to work outside the home as a clerk at the Richland Post Office and as the bookkeeper for Farmer’s Union Oil Co. (later Richland Farm Supply, then Cenex). She also helped form the Richland 4H Club and Home Demonstration Club and was a member of the Richland American Legion Auxiliary, and also served on the Valley County Election Board.

She was an active member of both the Richland Lutheran Church and the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow. She taught Sunday school and Bible School for 18 years in Richland, served as Church Treasurer and held the offices of President, Vice-President and Treasurer in the ALCW (American Lutheran Church Women) in Richland.

At the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow Adeline served as President, Vice President and Secretary of WELCA (Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church Association).  She was the Community Chairperson and Coordinator of the Fort Peck Cluster Women’s Organization. She was also a member of the Aid Association for Lutherans local branch where she served as Secretary/Treasurer and Chairperson.

Adeline volunteered wherever there was a need and through the Church Visitation Program she visited the homebound, gave communion and provided rides to appointments. She enjoyed participating in projects for Lutheran World Relief and made many visits to the residents of Valley View Nursing Home.

Adeline enjoyed her involvement with the Glasgow Senior Citizens Club by helping with the Bingo games and pancake breakfasts and the card recycling project. She held numerous offices there, as well as Vice President of the Montana State Senior Citizens. She was named as Glasgow’s Senior Citizen of the Year in 2000.

Adeline also volunteered at the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and Pioneer Museum and Hospital Gift Shop and she enjoyed keeping up with Gene’s railroad colleagues by being a member of the Railroad Retirees.

Adeline was well known for her hospitality and for hosting many family gatherings.

She always included her children’s friends, or anyone in need of a “family”, especially for the holidays. She was also well known for her baking, winning many blue ribbons and “Best of Fair” awards at the N.E. Montana Fair.

Adeline enjoyed fishing, camping, gardening, playing cards, Bingo, Scrabble and travelling throughout the US and Canada with her family and on many bus trips, and she especially enjoyed time spent with her three granddaughters and four great grandchildren, who all brought much joy to her life.

Adeline was preceded in death by her husband Gene, her mother and father, her step-mother Ida Miller Zimpel and her brother Wayne Zimpel.

Survivors include her children, Steven (Linda) of Meridian, Idaho, Sally (John) Flowers of Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada, and Don of Haltom City, Texas; three granddaughters, Kelly (Kevin) Olson, Jessica (Mark) Mills and Erin Peterson; four great-grandchildren, Emma, Madeline, Camden and Isaac, all of Meridian/Boise, Idaho;  two brothers, Lloyd Zimpel of San Francisco, California and George (Colleen) Zimpel,  of St. Paul, Minnesota and one sister, Mildred Neubauer, also of St Paul. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Cece Tulberg and Pat Zimpel as well as numerous beloved cousins, nephews and nieces.

The family would like to express a special thank you to the caring staff at the Cottages of Meridian where Adeline spent her final happy years and to all the staff at Hearts for Hospice in Meridian for their companionship, nursing, music and spiritual guidance, and to daughter-in-law Linda Peterson for the teddy bears made for family members from Adeline’s clothes.

Adeline will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered by her family, friends and all who were touched by her warm smile and service to others. If you wish to make a donation in Adeline’s name, please consider the Alzheimer’s Society and/or the First Lutheran Church of Glasgow. Local arrangements are under the direction of Bell Mortuary of Glasgow. Condolences may be sent to the family at bellmortuarymontana.com

Service Schedule

Funeral Service

2:00 PM

Thursday June 9, 2016

First Lutheran Church

641 2nd Avenue North

Glasgow, MT 59230

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