Irma Petersen
Irma Petersen

Obituary of Irma Petersen

Our beloved mother passed on to eternity on Oct. 2, 2011, after 98 years of a life very well lived. Mom was born July 7, 1913, in a home on Warm Springs Ave. in Boise. Her parents homesteaded in the Star and Eagle area where she attended school, graduating from Eagle High where she was named the "cutest girl" in the senior class. She attended business school in Boise. While working for the Bureau of Vital Statistics, she met her future husband and our father, Lee Petersen, who worked for the State Laboratory. Mom and Dad were married April 12, 1941 and soon moved to Pocatello where Dad pursued his career and their 5 children were born and raised. Dad worked as Director of Bannock County Health Department and later as owner and operator of Petersen Clinical Laboratory at St. Anthony's Hospital. Mom worked for a time as a secretary during WWII at the Naval Ordinance Plant in Pocatello. Sadly, Dad died unexpectedly in 1976. Mom continued to live in Pocatello, volunteering in the Foster Grandparent program as a helper in an elementary school and as a Pink Lady at the hospital. After a few years she and Roger, her youngest son, moved to Boise to join 3 of her other children. Mom lived in both Eagle and Boise, keeping a darling home and spending most of her time taking care of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking delicious meals and treats for her family. She was a member of Century Club and DAR and enjoyed traveling and visiting with her best friend of 70 plus years, Mary Welch and her brother and sister-in-law, Willis and Val Ayers. She never tired of doing for others and spoiling her kids and grandkids. Strong, kind, loving, and unselfish are only a few of the words that describe our mother. Mom leaves behind a sister, Ada Smith, 4 children, Buck Petersen (Ginny) of Nebraska, Linda Knopp (Larry), Margo Wyman (John), Bruce Petersen (Sheri), 11 grandchildren; Kelly Scott, Brook Millard, Staci Wiley, Brandon Wiley, Tysen Wyman, and Erik, Dana, Heidi, Shane, Chaz and Morgan Petersen; 10 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandson. She is preceded in death by her husband, Lee, their son, Roger, her parents, Charles and Mabel Ayres, a sister, Esmer Porter, and 2 brothers, Audrey Allen and Joy Ayres. A memorial service will be held Friday, October 28, 4pm at Summers Funeral Home,12th and Bannock St. in Boise. A reception will follow. An internment memorial for Irma and her son Roger, who passed away August 23, 2008, will be held at 3pm on Saturday, October 29 at Restlawn Memorial Gardens in Pocatello, Id. A reception will follow at Outback Golf Park, Pocatello Creek Road.
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A Memorial Tree was planted for Irma
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at McGuiness Funeral Home
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