Mavis Lavonne Dorothy Peterson, age 93, passed away Nov. 23, 2020, at the Estelline Nursing Care Center. A family funeral service will be 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Brookings with burial in the Sterling Lutheran Cemetery north of Brookings. Visitations will be Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, from 4-6 p.m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Brookings. The funeral will be live-streamed through Our Savior’s website www.oslcbrookings.net.
Mavis was born on Oct. 19, 1927 to Albert B. and Elsie (Geringer) Nelson on the family farm just north of Bruce, South Dakota. She graduated from Bruce High School in 1945 and then went onto Minneapolis Business School. On Nov. 27, 1946, Mavis married Donald Peterson in Brookings, South Dakota. They made their home in the Bruce area where she and Donald farmed and raised their family.
Mavis was very active in many organizations throughout her life. She was a member at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Brookings, South Dakota. Mavis was a lifetime member of the Peppy Pals Extension Club where she made friends with many of the ladies in the area. She was also a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 200 where she held several officer positions. With the help of her sister, Mavis hand-addressed the monthly newsletter, The Legionette, which was mailed out all over the United States. She was a member of the Sioux Valley Booster Club and volunteered at the elementary school. She had over 1000 hours of volunteering through Volunteer Services. Mavis enjoyed watching all her children and grandchildren’s activities, putting on more miles than a person could count.
Mavis is survived by her children: Pam (Steve) Van Maanen of Volga, SD; Jerry Peterson of Watertown, SD; and Dawn (Todd) Landsman of Sioux Falls, SD; her son-in-law, Scott Thompson of Bruce, SD; nine grandchildren: Eric Thompson of Trenton, TN; Kipp (Laurie) Thompson of Houston, TX; Nicole (Chad) Smidt of Vermillion, SD; Bethany (Chris) Artz of Baltic, SD; Phillip (Kacy) Peterson of Brandon, SD; Erika (Craig Mount) Peterson of Rapid City, SD; Sarah Peterson of Rapid City, SD; Matthew Landsman of Sioux Falls, SD; and Kayla (Jon) Geffre of Bruce, SD; and 17 great-grandchildren; Madison, Carly, and Allie Thompson; Parker, Hunter, and Jordan Thompson; Tayen and Delaney Smidt; Cameran and Kellen Artz; Lennon and Austen Peterson; Jackson and Kennedy Mount; Ella Wettestad; Jasmine and Cade Landsman; and by many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; a daughter, Janelle; her parents; her sister, Corinne, and two brothers-in-law; her brother, Herschel, and two sisters-in-law.