Funeral services for Mary E. Petersen, 96, of Chamberlain, SD will be 10:30 am, Friday, August 5, 2022 at St. James Catholic Church in Chamberlain, SD with burial in Grandview Cemetery at rural Chamberlain, SD. Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with family present at the Hickey Funeral Chapel in Chamberlain, SD.

Mary Elizabeth was born March 19, 1926 at home at rural Ola, SD to J.B. and Rose (Olinger) Randall.  She attended one room Keiner Country School for eight years and was awarded perfect attendance, never missing a day or was ever late.  She usually walked to school or rode a horse.  She then attended Chamberlain Public School graduating from Chamberlain High School in 1944.  She received a secretarial degree in April of 1945 from Mitchell Business College.

On September 2, 1946, Mary was united in marriage to Dwight H. Petersen at Chamberlain, SD.  She helped on the farm and raised the children.  She continued to help Dwight with the normal farm work until his passing on March 5, 1986.  Mary also worked as a teller at Tri-County State Bank for several years.  Mary moved to Regency Retirement on December 29, 2011 and later to Sanford Care Center in Chamberlain on June 23, 2022.

She was an avid bird watcher, gardener and canner.  She was an excellent cook and baker for the farm crews, hunters and family holidays.  She was crafty and enjoyed doing anything with her hands especially knitting, crocheting, and embroidery.  She also was a good seamstress, sewing many clothes.

Mary was active in the Country Colleens, was a 4-H Leader when her children were younger, and she was active in St. Anthony's and St. James' Altar Society.  She was a member of St. Anthony and St. James Catholic Churches.

Mary passed away on July 28, 2022 at Sanford Care Center in Chamberlain, SD at the age of 96 years.  Gratefully sharing her life are her son Herman (Carlene) Petersen of Chamberlain, SD; two daughters Margaret (Roger) Kleinsasser of Spearfish, SD and Marie (Bob) Richardson of Powell, WY; six grandchildren Mark (DeeDee) Petersen, Lori (Nate) McQuirk, Calvin (Kelli) Davis, Mike (Calley) Davis, Shelly (Doug) Kirk, and Earl Julin; and 11 great grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her husband Dwight on March 5, 1986, father J.B. on June 30, 1960 and mother Rose on August 28 1993, daughter Jeanne Wells on September 18, 1999, brother Wyman Randall on June 14, 2000 and his wife Rita on August 10, 2006, and sister Gladys Rosellini on February 22, 2005 and her husband Reno on August 26, 1968 and infant sister Romona in 1916.