Grace J. Peterson

Grace J. Peterson, age 94 of Lawton, ND, passed away on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, at the First Care Health Center of Park River, ND.

Grace J. Pederson was born March 21, 1927, on a farm near Kloten, ND, the daughter of the late Ole and Josephine (Jacobson) Pederson. She attended rural school near Kloten. Grace was united in marriage to Fred Schmidt in September of 1944. The couple lived and farmed near Tolna, ND, until his death in 1969. In 1970 she moved to Lawton, ND. She married Alvin Peterson on Nov. 23, 1976, in Lawton. The couple farmed near Lawton until moving into the Good Samaritan Center in February of 2020.

Grace was a hardworking farmwife, mother, and grandmother who deeply loved her family. She was a woman of simple tastes and few words, but much wisdom. She was kind, humble, strong, and steadfast. She and her husband of 44 years were deeply devoted to one another. A woman of faith, Grace was active in the former Vang Lutheran Church and Ladies Aid.

Grace’s interests included gardening and flowers, and she happily mowed their extensive lawn until she was 89. She was especially fond of bluebirds. She also enjoyed cross stitch, reading, and making her amazing lefse!  Grace's ability to solve crossword puzzles was legendary.

Grace is survived by her husband, Alvin “Pat” Peterson, Park River, ND; her sons: Ronald E. Schmidt, Tolna, ND, and Warren “Gene” (Leslie) Schmidt, Moorhead, MN; stepdaughters: Darlene (Gary) Krom, Lawton, ND, and Denise Sandford, Perham, MN; grandchildren: Trevor Schmidt, Jennifer Krom, Stacy Sandford, Kyle Krom, and James Sandford; great grandchildren: Teagyn Sandford, Blake McKusick, and Gracelyn Krom. Grace was the last surviving member of her immediate family. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Fred Schmidt, and three siblings.

Funeral services will be Monday, May 24, 2021 at 3:00 PM at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Park River, ND. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be at Vang Lutheran Cemetery, rural Fairdale.