Olive L. Peterson

Peterson, Olive Lorrayne Brudeseth

Olive, age 99 of Devils Lake, ND passed away peacefully at her home with her daughter and beloved puppy, Sam at her side on Monday, March 11, 2019.

It was 28 degrees below zero on the farm near Keith, ND. A blizzard was blowing outside and only kerosene lamps were burning inside when Olive Lorrayne was born.  She was the fifth of six children of Carl and Olga Schjenken Brudeseth.  Her Dad was born in a sod house near Keith and he ran the elevator there.  They were all 100 percent Norwegian. 

Olive and her sisters walked three miles each way to one room schools. She later roomed in Crary, ND where she finished high school.  She received her two year teaching degree in Valley City, ND where she met her future husband on the first day of school.

She married James Louis Peterson in a beautiful candlelight ceremony at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Devils Lake on June 1, 1941. Reverend E. Leland Rude led the service.

Olive taught for three years in North Dakota one room schools. She then got her four year teaching degree cum laude in Special Education from the University of Minnesota.  She taught Special Education for most of her 39 years in the Minneapolis, MN school system and was much loved by the children and their parents and was awarded for her excellent teaching.

She and Jim had one daughter, Sharon Lee, and made their home in Bloomington, MN. Sharon had one daughter, Melissa Lynne. Olive was the best wife, mother and grandmother in the world.  She was always so kind and looked for the good in everyone.  She was an excellent cook and housekeeper.  Everything was clean, clean, clean!  She loved being on Sharon’s farm and especially mowing with the tractors. 

In 2009, Olive and Sharon returned to Devils Lake. She was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church, the Sons of Norway, and Pioneer Daughters.  Every Thursday, she would have her hair and nails done by Diane at Adeline’s so she would look beautiful.  She loved coffee, cookies and ice cream.  Her last meal was ice cream. 

Olive is survived by her puppy Sam, her daughter Sharon Nelson, Devils Lake and her granddaughter Melissa Nelson, Minneapolis, MN and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Olive dearly loved her granddaughter, Missy and was so proud of her.  She spoke about her all the time.  Missy was able to be by her side in her last weeks and able to talk with her Grandma. 

Olive was preceded in death by her husband, Jim (August 31, 2003), her father and mother, brothers Leo and Melvin and sisters Alta (Joe) Kettwig, Genevieve (Bert) Jensen and Myrtle (Paul) Skurdall.

At Olive’s request there will not be a funeral or memorial service. Cremains will be buried in the Devils Lake Cemetery next to her husband, Jim at a later date.  She was the last surviving child of Carl and Olga (Schjenken) Brudeseth. 

Olive is in the care of the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake, ND

The family would like to extend a very special thank you to Anna Schemionek, Diane Togstad and Altru Hospice for all of the loving care they gave to Olive. They made her last days peaceful and beautiful and she knew that she was loved. Another thank you to Stephanie at Gilbertson’s for all of her help.