Merry Lee Peterson
April 9, 1938 — October 27, 2024
Merry Lee (Best) Peterson was born on April 9, 1938 in Harlan, Iowa, to Lloyd and Lucille (McKeown) Best. Merry Lee graduated from Shelby High School in 1956. As the eldest of the two, she adored her younger sister, Joy (Best) Christiansen. Merry Lee grew up on a farm just outside of Shelby, where she spent her teen years. When Paul and Merry Lee got married they continued to live on the farm, and raise their own kids. Merry Lee achieved the age of 86 years and 6 months. She passed away on Sunday afternoon, October 27, 2024, at Elm Crest in Harlan, surrounded by her family.
Merry Lee and Paul Peterson met at Shelby School. They dated for 2 years and then continued to date while Paul was stationed in Germany with the Army. She married Paul on January 10, 1959, in the First Presbyterian Church in Shelby, Iowa. Together with her loving husband they had four children: Brenda (Cliff) Marts, Janine (Lavern) Fetzer, David (Tamara) Peterson, and Jean Mills. Their family expanded to include 16 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Merry Lee was an extremely hard worker, doing a lot of the farm chores, a mail route, being a master gardener, all while helping with the grandchildren. She was a lab tech in the Omaha, NE area for 3 years. Helping start the lab tech program in Millard. A rural mail carrier for 20 years in the Shelby-Tennant area, six days a week. A master gardener for 5 years with one of her specialties being different variations of Iris. Most of the Irises around Shelby were either grown or planted by her.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Lloyd and Lucille Best, and in-laws Mary Jane and Keith Peterson. She is survived by her husband Paul Peterson of Harlan, Iowa; children Brenda (Cliff) Marts of Ignacio, Colorado; Janine (Lavern) Fetzer of Amarillo, Texas; David (Tamara) Peterson of Clarinda, Iowa; Jean Mills of Shelby, Iowa; 16 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; sister Joy (Gerald) Christiansen; a multitude of nieces, nephews and friends.
Merry Lee and Paul Peterson met at Shelby School. They dated for 2 years and then continued to date while Paul was stationed in Germany with the Army. She married Paul on January 10, 1959, in the First Presbyterian Church in Shelby, Iowa. Together with her loving husband they had four children: Brenda (Cliff) Marts, Janine (Lavern) Fetzer, David (Tamara) Peterson, and Jean Mills. Their family expanded to include 16 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Merry Lee was an extremely hard worker, doing a lot of the farm chores, a mail route, being a master gardener, all while helping with the grandchildren. She was a lab tech in the Omaha, NE area for 3 years. Helping start the lab tech program in Millard. A rural mail carrier for 20 years in the Shelby-Tennant area, six days a week. A master gardener for 5 years with one of her specialties being different variations of Iris. Most of the Irises around Shelby were either grown or planted by her.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Lloyd and Lucille Best, and in-laws Mary Jane and Keith Peterson. She is survived by her husband Paul Peterson of Harlan, Iowa; children Brenda (Cliff) Marts of Ignacio, Colorado; Janine (Lavern) Fetzer of Amarillo, Texas; David (Tamara) Peterson of Clarinda, Iowa; Jean Mills of Shelby, Iowa; 16 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; sister Joy (Gerald) Christiansen; a multitude of nieces, nephews and friends.
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