Barbara Petersen

Barbara Petersen, age 83, of rural Vergas, MN, passed away Thursday, July 6, 2017, at Ecumen Emmanuel Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes surrounded by her family.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Tuesday, July 11, 2017, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Vergas, MN. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m., Monday, July 10, 2017, at St. John's Lutheran Church with a prayer service to take place at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Burial will be made at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery. Furey Funeral Home is assisting the family with funeral arrangements. Leave online condolences at www.fureyfh.com.

Barbara Ann Schmidt Petersen was born August 12,1933 the daughter of Rev. Carl W. and Ernestine (Sieckmann) Schmidt. Barbara was born in the parsonage of Trinity Lutheran Church, Grant Township, Ida County, Iowa. She was baptized August 20, 1933 at Trinity Lutheran Church and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Zion Lutheran Church, Denison, IA. She attended Zion Lutheran Parochial School, Denison High School, graduating in May 1951. She then attended St. John’s Lutheran College, Winfield, Kansas and was assigned to teach in Immanuel Lutheran School, Houston, TX.

On December 26, 1954, Barbara was united in marriage to Earl Petersen at Zion Lutheran, Denison IA, with her father officiating. After finishing the school term in Houston, they returned to Denison and started farming in Crawford County and were blessed with the birth of seven children. She was active in Ladies Aid, Wedding Ring Club and Sunday School teaching.

In February 1972, the family moved to Minnesota where they purchased Murfins Resort, later changing the name to End Of The Road Resort, Upper Cormorant Lake in Lake Park, MN. They owned and operated the resort for 27 years. In 1998, they sold the resort and moved to the Vergas, MN, area on Lake Ida.

She was active in her church and loved every minute. She was secretary of the voters for two years, and was Christian Growth Leader for the LWML for nine years. Barbara loved her Lord and enjoyed reading her bible and listening to christian music and going to church. She enjoyed gardening, reading and knitting. Her children and grandchildren were very special to her and she enjoyed having them come visit.

Barbara was preceded in death by her daughter, Rebecca Sue; her parents; her sister, Irene Kruthoff.

Barbara is survived by her husband of 62 years, Earl Petersen of Detroit Lakes; 1 son, Timothy (Jackie) of Thunder Bay, Ont., Canada; 5 daughters: Katherine (Roger) Block of Jamestown, ND, Carla (Tom) Yenko of Bremerton, WA, Martina Stevens of Iowa Park, TX, Roberta Petersen of Jamestown, ND and Jennifer (James) Krause of Detroit Lakes, MN; seven grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; along with many nieces, nephews and friends.