Phyllis A. Peterson

Phyllis A. Peterson, age 96 of Litchfield, MN died on Wednesday January 29, 2020 at the Meeker Manor in Litchfield, MN. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday February 5, 2020 at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Cedar Mills, MN. Visitation will be held two hours prior to the service on Wednesday. Interment will be held in the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery. Phyllis Arlene Peterson, the daughter of Albert and Selma (Bjornstad) Schipper was born on January 21, 1924 in Litchfield, MN. She was baptized on June 14, 1924 and confirmed on June 25, 1939. She was united in marriage to Harvey Rathbun on August 9, 1942 in the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church parsonage in Litchfield, MN and later united in marriage to Marvin Peterson on May 9, 1970 at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Phyllis grew up on a farm near Litchfield and lived in Minneapolis for many years. She moved to Cedar Mills in 1965 until relocating to Litchfield. Phyllis was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cedar Mills where she was active with the Mary Martha Guild. She was an excellent seamstress, sewing draperies and making alterations. She enjoyed putting jigsaw puzzles together and was very competitive when playing cards, Scrabble and Triominoes. She is survived by her children Diane Koepp of Correll, MN, Denise (Jim) Otremba of Litchfield, MN and Duane (Dianne) Rathbun of Soldotna, AK; 7 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; brother Roger Schipper of Milaca; and sister Wilma (Merrill) Hyde of Janesville, WI. She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Harvey and Marvin; brothers Sam Larson, Andrew Larson, Glen Larson, Clifford Larson, Chester Larson; sisters Hazel Niehaus, Violet Westrup, Elaine Jonell, Myrna Toftley, Betty Ryhti and Harriet Onell; sister-in-law Hermione; son-in-law Paul Koepp; grandsons Jesse Rathbun and Bradley Sullivan; and great granddaughter Emily Koepp.