Diane K. Peterson, age 75 Dickey ND, passed away at Sanford Hospice House, Fargo ND on Saturday, January 2, 2021 due to complications from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. She was the best wife, Mom, grandmother, and sister anyone could ever hope for. Diane Kay Fenno was born October 19, 1945 at Jamestown, ND to Max and Irene (Martinson) Fenno. She grew up in the family home in Adrian, ND attending grades 1-8 in Adrian and grades 9-10 in Montpelier. Due to school district boundary changes she switched to Dickey, ND high school for her Junior and Senior high school years, graduating in 1963.
After high school, mom worked as a CNA in Jamestown until marrying the love of her life, Lawrence Peterson, on November 14, 1964, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Adrian and moving to the Peterson farm northeast of Dickey where Mom and Dad spent 57 great years together. Mom and Dad lovingly raised 3 kids on that farm Kevin, Shelly and Nicole, teaching them about life, love, laughter, the importance of family, and the willingness to work hard. Mom worked alongside dad milking cows (she named them all! They were her cows) and doing all the tasks of a grain farmer’s wife: driving truck, swathing small grains, drying sunflowers, corn, beans, and wheat, gardening and mowing lawn (she loved to mow). In addition to farm life, Mom loved Cardinals; anyone who knew her can attest to that. After the cows were sold in 1994, Mom went back to being a CNA at St. Rose Care Center in LaMoure taking care of the residents with the same care and compassion she had with Dad, the kids, and the grandkids. Mom retired in 2006 after 2 knee replacements and went back to helping Dad full-time on the grain farm until they both retired in 2011. Mom and Dad continued to live on the farm until mid-2020 when her health declined.
Mom loved traveling with Dad to visit her kids and grandkids. When they came to visit her and Dad at the farm, it was such a special treat doting her love and grace upon all of them. Mom and Dad also spent several winters in Arizona meeting up with many ND snowbirds and enjoying that warm and sunny time with them.
Mom was a very active member of Dickey United Methodist Church for the past 46 years doing everything to serve Jesus her Lord and Savior from Sunday School teacher, choir member, church cleaning, serving at weddings and funerals, etc. Mom convinced Dad to start going to church with her back then and it continued to the present.
Mom is survived by her husband, Lawrence; son Kevin (Karen) Dodge Center, MN; daughters Shelly, Fargo ND, and Nicole (Kelly) Rohrbeck, Kindred ND. 9 grandchildren Forrest, Dacotah, and Ellery Wealot, Kyrielle, Rhylan, and Litany Peterson; RaeAnn (Annie), Hope, and Tess Rohrbeck. 2 sisters Sharon (John) Price Eau Claire, WI and Pam Bieber Fargo, ND.
Mom was preceded in death by her parents, Max and Irene, her in-laws Fred and Mabel Peterson; her sister and brother-in-law Jan and Rodney Larson and her nephew Travis Stroh.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.
Services to be held in Summer 2021 to honor and cherish Mom’s life. Cremation has taken place.
Please direct Memorials to: Sanford Hospice House, 801 Broadway N, Fargo, ND 58102, or a hospice of your choice.
Eddy Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.