Lillian Peterson, 90, of Hills, Minnesota, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, surrounded by her family at Ava’s House Hospice in Sioux Falls.
A Celebration of Life Service was at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory in Sioux Falls. Visitation was from 2 p.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Graveside service was at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, at Pleasant View Cemetery, rural Hills, Minnesota. An online guestbook and link to view the service are available at www.georgeboom.com
Lillian Catherine Fick, daughter of Henry and Anna (Wilkens) Fick was born July 28, 1934, in Luverne, Minnesota. Lillian attended country school near her home on her parents’ farm and then Hills High School where she graduated in 1952. After high school she worked as a nanny for various local families with young children.
She was united in marriage to Alvin Peterson on Jan. 24, 1953, in Luverne. The couple was blessed with 52 years of marriage before Alvin’s passing in 2005. After getting married, she lived with Alvin’s sister while he was in Germany during the Korean War. She babysat with her nieces and nephew along with working at a local café in Luverne at that time.
Most of Lillian’s working years were spent raising her four children on the farm and helping her husband raise crops and working with livestock. She later started to work in Luverne for various employers including Kenny’s SuperValu, Cozy Rest Motel, and the Mary Jane Brown Nursing Home. She enjoyed working with the elderly in their homes providing care and cleaning services. Her last working years were spent at Hy-Vee in Sioux Falls. She loved spending time with the grandchildren.
During her earlier years in Minnesota, she was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and the Baptist Church in Luverne. While living in Sioux Falls, she was a member of Eastside Baptist Church. Lillian has cherished the last months living at Tuff Memorial Home in Hills where she was able to attend her first prom and participate in their many activities.
She fiercely loved her children and grandchildren. Her children would come home from school with mom there and the smell of supper or baked goods in the oven. She gave of herself and everything that she had. God gave her the most giving heart he ever created.
After Alvin passed in 2005, she moved to Sioux Falls and made many new friends. She was able to take several trips with her children, her brother, Gerhard, and also bus trips with new friends.
Left to cherish her memory are her children, Brenda (Tim) Medill of Sioux Falls, Rick (Sue) Peterson of Sioux Falls, Bonita (Dan) Schwarz of Lake Madison, South Dakota, and Connie (Randy) Zupp of Pipestone, Minnesota; brother Norbert (Laureen) Fick of Luverne, Minnesota; 10 grandchildren, Chris (Crystal) Medill of Aberdeen, South Dakota, Cory (Katie) Medill of Sheridan, Wyoming, Shane Peterson of Luverne, Minnesota, Sawyer (Tomena) Peterson of Sioux Falls, Lucas (Ana Marie) Peterson of Luverne, Minnesota, Joshua Stoltenberg of Deadwood, South Dakota, Jeremy (Shanae) Stoltenberg of Lead, South Dakota, Jacob (Tiara) Stoltenberg of Hills, Minnesota, Whitney (TJ) Carpenter of Pipestone, Minnesota, and Cody (Tabatha) Brown of Kelliher, Minnesota; 25 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; special friend Eddie Dock of Pipestone, Minnesota; and a host of extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Anna; husband, Alvin; and brother, Gerhard (Eldora) Fick.
