Arlene Peterson

Arlene Peterson, age 84 of Truman passed away Tuesday June 20, 2023 at Mayo Hospital – Mankato. A memorial service will be held 11AM Friday June 30 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Truman with Rev. Carol Mapa officiating. Visitation will be Thursday June 29 from 5-7PM at Zaharia Funeral Home in Truman and continue one hour before the service. Burial will be at Ridgelawn Cemetery. Online condolences can be left at www.zahariafamilyfuneral.com

Arlene was born on June 17, 1939 to Ernest and Elenora (Brummond) Meyer. She and her four siblings were raised three miles north of Truman on the farm. She went to grade school at Antrim Parochial before attending and graduating from Truman High School in 1957. After high school she worked at the Truman Farmer’s Elevator. On October 24 1959 she married her dancing partner Doyle Peterson. They would make their home in Truman and raise their two children Jeff and Jennifer.  Arlene and Doyle lived, worked and played together for nearly 63 years. Arlene was the bookkeeper for Peterson Feed Inc. and many other jobs around town. As she said more than once “in a small town you have to be a jack of all trades.”  She worked at the bakery, the grocery store, the flower shop and with her brother Gary at Napa Auto Parts. It was the cleanest auto parts store in southern MN. She and Doyle also had a lawn care business. Their own lawn and flowers are renowned.  She was a classic church lady at Trinity Lutheran Church. She served in Martha Circle, sang in the choir for over 40 years, worked at many a coffee hour, Vacation Bible School, funeral and wedding. When not at work or church she could be found at Rose Lake Golf Course - Thursdays for Lady’s Day and Saturdays with the family and out for pizza afterwards. She and Doyle traveled to all 50 states as well as Europe, Mexico and Canada. Her favorite state was Colorado because she loved the mountains. Yet the prairie was home. She and Doyle were ardent boosters of Truman. For the last few years of his life she faithfully took care of Doyle as his dementia progressed. He was in the nursing home for his last four months and she never missed one day of being with him. She enjoyed playing cards, sending cards, doing puzzles, word puzzles and Sudoku, and watching MN sports. She was even playing word puzzles on her smart phone. She will be remembered for her boundless energy, umm…her talkative nature, her generosity and her kringles.

She is survived by son Jeffrey and daughter Jennifer (Paul Schuster).  Her brothers Delvin (Phyllis) Meyer, Don (Sandy) Meyer, Gary (Linda) Meyer, as well as a wide extended family and many, many friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, sister DeLores Meyer Helvig, parents, parents-in-law, 10 brothers-in-law and 8 sisters-in-law on the Peterson side.

Arlene will be deeply, deeply missed.  Our one and only consolation is that she is with Doyle again.

Donations to Trinity Lutheran Church or the Truman Historical Society are appreciated.