Florence Marguerite Peterson, age 97, of Mankato, died Sunday, November 1, 2009, at Oaklawn Health Care Center in Mankato.

Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, November 5, 2009, at St. Peter Funeral Home-Klein Chapel with Rev. Jerry Lanes officiating. Burial will be in Scandian Grove Lutheran Church Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Thursday.

Florence was born on January 4, 1912. When she was one year old, she was adopted by John and Cora Wright of Guthrie, MN. She married J. Victor Peterson on June 20, 1941, at Scandian Grove Lutheran Church. She graduated from Bemidji State Teachers College and taught in several area country schools. She also graduated from Mankato State College (Minnesota State University) in 1958 with a BS degree in Elementary Education. She taught school 30 years (18 in Le Center). After retiring in 1970, they moved to Rochester, MN, where they enjoyed various community activities. In 1978, they returned to St. Peter.

Florence is survived by her two children, Ron and wife, Marlys, of Mankato and Margaret Vander Maat and husband, Paul, of Datil, NM; five grandchildren, Randy Peterson and wife, Liesl, of Spring, TX, Scott Peterson of Mankato, Tatia Veltkamp and husband, Tim, of Albuquerque, NM, Kirk Vander Maat and wife, Shelly, of Albuquerque, NM, and Kevin Vander Maat, and wife, Ruth, of Datil, NM; 15 great-grandchildren: Alexia, Levi and Brett Peterson, Calista and Caela Peterson, Spencer, Ryan and Justin Veltkamp, Jake, Paige and Christopher Vander Maat, Allegra, Aspen, Emily and Ezekiel Vander Maat.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Victor in 2000; and a brother, Floyd Wright.