PETERSON, Delores V., age 87

Died: Friday, December 25th, 2015

Per Delores' request, no formal services will be held.

A wonderful cook and gardener, Delores Virginia Peterson, age 87, passed from this world into God's hands on Friday, December 25, 2015 where she will be reunited with her loving husband, Roger L. Peterson.

Delores was born on November 4, 1928 in Drammen, WI to the late Andrew and Mabel (Loftsgordon) Hanson. She lived there until her mother passed when she was 10 years old. She then moved to Eau Claire to live with her Aunt. Delores attended school and in 1946 graduated from Eau Claire Senior High. In 1947, she married Roger Peterson and they had two daughters, Nancy and Susan.

She taught her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to love and respect all living creatures, especially dogs. As a child she had a pet lamb that followed her all around the farm. Her dog, Tig, could even climb a ladder. The family ran a general store where the local Norwegians could buy Christmas lutefisk seasoned in a special way by the area animals.

Mom and Dad loved to garden and were organic growers before it was popular. They both had green thumbs and could grow anything. Mom would always pester Dad to see if the potatoes were ready to dig. She would stick her fingers in the dirt and Dad would advise when she could dig them up. Petunias even grew in the cracks of their driveway.

Mom was quite the billiards player in her youth. She often spoke of days on the farm trudging through the snow to the outhouse and carrying water for priming the pump.

Mom loved to go to garage sales. She preferred buying recycled and repurposed items. Both mom and dad had a flair for decorating and renovating. Dad could fix anything and mom would clean things making them like new again.

She always looked forward to family night at home. We had kid rockers in front of the TV and would watch the Wonderful World of Disney, enjoying our popcorn from the old stir popper. That tradition continued with her grandchildren. Matthew and Angie would walk down to the local store with grandma and grandpa to buy frozen Coke and penny candy. They loved to enjoy that in their huge backyard under the stars at night.

We will miss calling her to fix a cooking mistake or finding out what's new at the farmer's market. We loved to share the latest funny things our dogs were doing to brighten the day.

It was important for her to reward people who were kind to her by treating them to candy or cookies. You would always leave her house with a handful of chocolate or sweets. Dad always wanted her to open a cafe so everyone could enjoy her homemade dishes. She always bought the best since her illness didn't allow her to continue making them on her own. In her last few months, she loved treating the Sacred Heart workers in the Dialysis' unit with sweets for all their hard work and kind-heartedness.

Delores is survived by her daughters, Nancy Keen and Susan (Roger) Risen; grandchildren, Daniel Ostenso, Jennifer Mayer, Melissa Mooney, Matthew and Jodi Risen, Angie and John Eslinger; great grandchildren; Sydney and Lauren Mayer, Gabi, Gracie, and Ellie Eslinger, Camdyn and Chloe Risen; sister-in-law, Adeline Hanson; her dog, Princess, along with many grand puppies; two nephews, a niece, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Roger; brother, Merlin Hanson; nephew, Billy Peterson; and their many dogs over the years, Penny 1, 2, 3, Princess 1 & 2, Kiko and Tammy.