Anna-Liisa Peterson - Brookings

June 30, 1921 – March 19, 2018

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Anna-Liisa (Myllymaki) Peterson, 96, died Monday, 19 March 2018, at United Living Center in Brookings.   Visitations will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 23, 2018, at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 24, 2018, at Ascension Lutheran Church.

Anna-Liisa was born 30 June 1921 in Viipuri, Finland, the daughter of Vaino and Hanna Loviisa (Selin) Myllymaki. Her godparents were Matti and Edla Emilia (Tapanainen) Haakana.Anna-Liisa and her older brother, Eino, grew up in Viipuri where Vaino worked for the Finnish Railroad. Unfortunately, on New Year’s Eve 1931, her father Vaino passed away. Family life appeared normal during the spring of 1932. Yet, her mother Hanna passed away on 9 May 1932. Anna-Liisa and Eino then lived with long time family friends and godparents Matti and Edla Haakana in Viipuri.

The Finnish-Russian Wars were a significant disruption that caused her family to move frequently during 1939 and the early 1940s. She spent her final year of high school in Kuopio.

After high school, Anna-Liisa joined the Lotta Svärd, the Finnish military organization for women. She was trained in communications. While on duty in January of 1942, she was the person who received the teletype that her brother Eino’s fighter plane was missing in action over NW Russia. 

In 1943, she began teachers training in horticulture and entomology. After graduating, she worked in the Finnish equivalent of the Extension Service.

 Participation in the Smith-Mundt Educational Exchange program brought Anna-Liisa from Finland to the USA. In August of 1955 she arrived at SDSU and was assigned to the Horticulture Department. There she met a young professor, Ronald Peterson. 

On 14 July, 1956 Anna-Liisa married the love of her life, Ronald M. Peterson in Helsinki.

Anna-Liisa was a founding member of Ascension Lutheran Church and was active in church groups. She also was involved with other organizations such as the SDSU women’s auxiliary and women’s extension club, as well as various social groups. Anna-Liisa was known locally as the “Apple Lady”.   Nature and all things outdoors were favorites. She loved cross-country skiing, canoeing, biking and tent camping. And Anna-Liisa had a special gift and passion for gardening. With her husband Ron she greatly enjoyed traveling. Anna-Liisa loved spending time with family and friends. Given her constant smile, she was a friend to everyone.

Anna-Liisa is survived by her husband, Ronald of Brookings, her sons Erik (Claudia) of Sandy, Oregon and John of Aberdeen; grandchildren- Nick (Adine), Annalisa, Katrina, Aaron, Chad and Brian; one great-grandson, Mykel, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her son Kurt, her parents, godparents, and her brother Eino.

Memorials may be directed to the Ascension Lutheran Church Endowment, Habitat for Humanity or Feeding Brookings.