Luanne Peterson

Luanne Peterson, age 88, of Harmony, Minn., passed away peacefully at Traditions of Harmony Assisted Living in Harmony on December 29, 2019.

Luanne was born on April 19, 1931, to Robert and Marvel (Wheeler) Wentworth in Cresco, Iowa.  She graduated from Cresco High School and went to work at a five and dime store in Cresco, where she met her future husband Lloyd Peterson.  Luanne and Lloyd were married on April 15, 1952.  Together they farmed south of Harmony for many years.  Luanne enjoyed being a farm wife, especially after being raised in town.  She was fully involved in all the chores, especially enjoying milking the cows and raising Jersey calves, driving the tractor, as well as gardening and canning the produce.

In the early 1960s, Luanne was asked by Bill Peterson and Merlin Hoiness to sew a fishing shelter because she had a heavy-duty Singer sewing machine (which she still has) and the dining room table on the farm became her work table.  Later, the business moved to town with Luanne being the first seamsress before expanding even further.  the business, now known as HECO, evolved and encompassed building cardboard balers.  Luanne loved to travel with Lloyd as they drove around the country with those balers being towed behind their truck, as he would go from place to place selling them.  They covered many states in those travels.  Not only did she work on the farm, but she also worked for HECO and for Hi Point Coverings into her late 70s.

Luanne had an amazing “green thumb” and could raise any plant to its full beauty.  Music was a big part of her life.  She played guitar, sang in the church choir and for many weddings.  She also was a talented painter, artist, seamstress, and handy with the crochet hooks. Her paintings and books can be seen around Harmony.  She wrote poetry, which she included in her book of paintings.  She crocheted many doilies for her church, family, friends and fundraisers.  She crocheted hundreds of hats and mittens, which she gave away to pediatric cancer patients and food banks in the area.

Luanne was a member of the Harmony United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women, as well as Golden Happenings of Harmony.

Luanne is survived by her son Larry Peterson of Harmony and his beloved partner Janice Huff of Cresco, Iowa; also a very special friend (whom she considered a daughter), Michelle Burnikel of Cresco, Iowa; and three nieces and nephews, whom she raised: Tony, Rita and Mary Wentworth.  She is also survived by her grandchildren: Stephanie (Matthew) Bjurquist of Maple Grove, Minn., Nicholas (Kayla) Peterson of Preston, Minn., Christopher (Brenda) Peterson of Chatfield, Minn., Mitchelle (Alexandra) Peterson of Onalaska, Wis., Chad (Jessica) Hackman of Shakopee, Minn., Shannon (Aaron) Hurd of Cresco, Iowa; and 10 great-grandchildren, as well as many other nieces and nephews, her Hi Pointe friends, neighbors and many other dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Lloyd Peterson, infant daughter Julie Peterson, parents Robert and Marvel Wentworth, and sister and brothers Marilyn Thoemke, Bob Wentworth, and Ron Wentworth.

Luanne was kind, loving, quite a storyteller, loved people and always had an open door and a full coffee pot.  She was giving and generous in life and in death, as she willed her body to Mayo Clinic for education and research.

A memorial service will be held as a later date.