Olive Daphne Peterson, age 90, of Canton, Minn., formerly of Stewartville, Minn., passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 25, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.
Olive was born on October 2, 1935, in Lanesboro, Minn., to Obert and Delia (Erickson) Halvorson. She grew up on the family farm near Peterson, Minn., where she developed a lifelong love of nature, family, and community. On July 24, 1955, Olive married Glenn Peterson at Highland Prairie Lutheran Church in Peterson, Minn. The couple made their first home in Houston, Minn., before settling in Stewartville, Minn., where they built a warm and loving home and raised their three children. In 1993, they moved to their beloved Big Woods property near Canton, Minn.
Olive devoted her life to caring for others. After graduating from high school, she began her nursing career at Colonial Hospital in Rochester, Minn., and later worked at Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, Wis., during the years they lived in Houston. In 1971, she earned her nursing degree from Rochester Community and Technical College. Olive worked for two years at Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minn., then at Swygman Nursing Home before joining the Stewartville Care Center, where she cared for others with compassion and dedication for more than 48 years. Even after moving to Canton, she made the one-hour commute each way for 26 years, continuing her work with warmth and kindness until her retirement at age 83.
Olive was deeply involved in her community, participating in the Lions Club, American Legion Auxiliary, and the Jaycees. She and Glenn opened their hearts and home as foster parents to many children over the course of more than 25 years. At home in the Big Woods, Olive could often be found in her golf cart tending to her lawns, gardens, and beautiful flowers. She loved hosting gatherings for family and friends and relaxing on the deck, enjoying the peaceful view of their backyard.
Olive is survived by her children Linda (Paul) Dolan and John (Jody Seiler) Peterson, both of Apple Valley, Minn.; six grandchildren: Joe, Carolyn, Nick, Lauren, Olen and Bennett; her brother Paul (Cheryl) Halvorson, brother-in-law Lyle Peterson, sister-in-law Janice (Peterson) Unnasch, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her daughter Renee, her husband of 65 years, Glenn; and her parents.
A celebration of Olive’s life will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville, Minn. Visitation will take place from 9:30-11:30 a.m., with the funeral service at 11:30 a.m. A luncheon will be served afterward. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be available via livestream on the Zion Lutheran Church website at www.zion-stewartville.org; click the “Online Worship” button.
Memorial contributions will go toward creating a permanent memorial in Olive’s name, with remaining funds to be donated to MN Hospice. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville.
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