June Karen Peterson

On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, June Peterson passed away peacefully at Luther Haven Nursing Home in Montevideo, Minnesota.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:30 PM on Friday, December 19, 2025 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Montevideo. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Montevideo.

Visitation with the family will be held one hour prior to the services at the church on Friday. Arrangements are with Anderson - TeBeest Funeral Home.

June Karen Peterson was born on June 3, 1937, to parents, Dewey and Minnie (Esplind) Folkestad, in a hospital in Montevideo, Minnesota. She was baptized in the living room of their home by Pastor Knutson and later confirmed. This strong foundation of faith carried on throughout her life, attending church on Sundays and studying the bible daily. In 1955, June graduated from Oak Grove Lutheran High School in Fargo, North Dakota. After high school she completed post graduate work, receiving a degree in parish work.

On July 28, 1958, June married Claus Alf Peterson at the old Trinity Church in Montevideo. They lived in Minneapolis and started a family. They had four children: Sonja Louise, Jon Eric, David Roy, and Leif Claus. The family moved to Montevideo in 1973. They purchased the Hardware Hank store on Main Street, owning it for 17 years.

June had the unique ability to appreciate the little things in life. She would rather have a handful of daisies than a bouquet of roses. She was known to pick up a leaf or a rock, just because she liked the shape of it. June loved nature, whether that be camping, going on hikes in Itasca, or working in her garden.

Possessing a passion for creativity, June enjoyed doing crafts with her friends and grandchildren. She took the time each year to make a handmade Christmas ornament for her loved ones. These ornaments will now have an extra special meaning each Christmas, as they will remind us of her joyful spirit. Her creativity expanded into the kitchen as well. Some of her signature dishes include the world’s best potato salad, canned goods, and her white sauce served with lutefisk.

The ability to connect with her inner child was one of June’s strengths. She was also known for sharing songs and sayings from her youth. Some notable ones include “The Teddy Bear Picnic”,“Good Morning Song”, and “Are we having fun yet?”. Family was a big part of June’s life. She enjoyed sharing memories and stories from when she was a little girl. Another aspect of June’s life where she experienced her child-like joy was on her birthday. June was appropriately named because her birthday stretched throughout the entire month. She absolutely loved celebrating her birthday each year.

June is survived by her children: Sonja Peterson of Montevideo, Jon (Jana) Peterson of Moorhead, Leif (Lynette) Peterson of Dawson; six grandchildren: Perla Peterson (Raul) Gasca, Katie (Dylan) Spicer, Anna (Micah) Esala, David (Rachel Williams) Peterson, Lindee (Jesse) Nelson, Jessica Olson; great grandchildren: Leo(Leonardo) Rodriguez, Adry (Adriel) Raul Gasca Peterson, Viktor Spicer, and Broady Nelson. She is also survived by her brother Mark Folkestad along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband: Claus Peterson; her parents; infant son David Roy Peterson in 1961; her siblings: Merald Folkestad, Stan Folkestad, Evie Ostlie, Lorraine Widme, and Dewey Folkestad.

June never traveled alone. Wherever June was, Claus was always right by her side. We take comfort knowing their journey continues together – side by side, as they did in life.