Naomi ?Ruth? Peterson

Naomi ?Ruth? Peterson, 78, of Mt. Pleasant, died Monday, Feb. 10, 2014, at her home.

A funeral is set for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Pleasant, with the Rev. Deb Savage officiating. Inurnment will be in the Salem South Cemetery at a later date.

Visitation will begin after noon Friday at Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel, where family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m.

Memorials have been established to Henry County Relay for Life and the Lewelling Quaker Museum. On-line condolences may be directed to www.olsonpowell.com.

Mrs. Peterson was born Oct. 29, 1935, in Salem, the daughter of William E. and Alma Short Johnston Pfeiffer. She married Lloyd A. Orr Nov. 21, 1951. They later divorced. She married L.R. ?Pete? Peterson March 28, 1992. He died May 31, 2009.

She attended Salem School.

She had worked as a nurse?s aide, and later at Metromail, Kennedy?s Dairy and Midwest Old Threshers. She was always a homemaker and tended to the needs of her family.

While living in Illinois, Mrs. Peterson was a member of the American Legion Women?s Auxiliary.

She moved back to the Henry County area in 1961. She did volunteer work at Fellowship Cup and Old Threshers. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church and Presbyterian Women.

Favorite hobbies included reading, crossword puzzles and traveling. She loved watching the birds and squirrels. She had a general silliness that was appreciated by all who knew her.

Survivors include: three daughters, Regina Allen and husband Larry of Lockridge, Deborah Oliver and husband Chris of O?Fallon, Mo., and Cheryl Orr of Mt. Pleasant; stepdaughter Virginia Ekstrand of New London; two step-sons: Marvin Peterson and wife Carol of Wood River, Ill., and David Peterson and wife Nancy of Bellville, Ill.; three sisters, Dorothy Williams of Logansport, Ind., Ellen Frank of Mt. Pleasant and Lola Waterhouse of Salem; brother Dale Johnston of Florida; five grandchildren; 11 stepgrandchildren; five great-grand-children; 15 stepgreat-grandchildren; and one stepgreat-great-grandchild.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by: stepfather R.M. Pfeiffer; daughter Sally Jo Orr; stepson Dennis Peterson; and stepdaughter Lola Jean Harmon.