Helen Louise (Smoot) Peterson, 88, began her heavenly journey at midnight on March 13, 2015. She was born in Iron Mountain, Michigan, to Walter and Rose Smoot on April 13, 1926.
She spent her younger years at various places throughout Wisconsin, and as you drove around the area you could hear her say, “I went to school there,” or “We lived there!” One of her favorite places she lived was in Sturgeon Bay. Later she moved to Spruce with her parents and graduated from the Little Red School. Then she moved back to the Kelly Lake area in 1973 to take care of her mother. Following that she moved to Green Bay in 1983 and returned to the Kelly Lake area in 2012.
Helen was an active lifetime member of the Hickory United Methodist Church. She taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, was a member of the Ladies Aid, and was baptized and married at Hickory United Methodist Church, Hickory Corners.
Helen married Martin Peterson in 1946, and they farmed their entire married life.
They had three children, Walter Peterson, who passed away in 2009; Robert and Sharon Peterson, of Lena, and Nancy and Dan Cormier, of Kelly Lake. She had six grandsons, Ron Standridge, Allen and Tanya Peterson, Brian and Erin Fischer, Troy and Dawn Schwartz, Jerrid and Corinne Schwartz, Tyler and Shannon Schwartz; one granddaughter, Kandi Standridge; great-grandchildren, Lee, Nikki, Kylee, Kayla, Heaven, Frank, Hutcher and Keira. Also surviving is an aunt, Mildred Salefsky, of Phoenix, Arizona; sister-in-law, Selma Peterson, of Peshtigo; several nieces and nephews; cousins and many extended family members.
Also preceding her in death was a special friend, Wally, her parents, grandparents, one brother and one sister, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, and many cousins.
Helen most recently had been a resident of Woodlands Nursing Home in Suring, where she had many friends and enjoyed her Bingo game and playing Yahtzee. She had always kept herself busy with her crafts, as she enjoyed painting, sewing, knitting, crocheting, quilting or helping mend or alter clothes for many people.
Her most enjoyable times were just going for a ride in the car, whether it was traveling somewhere special or taking the back roads to wherever they may lead, but she was “queen” of the back roads!
She will be deeply missed by all.
Visitation was held at the Hickory United Methodist Church on Monday, March 16, from 9 a.m. until the funeral service at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Daniel Nault officiating.
Gruetzmacher Funeral Home in Suring is in charge of the arrangements.
Online condolences can be expressed at www.gruetzmacherfuneralhome.com.
Any memorial gifts may be given to the Hickory United Methodist Church – Children’s Ministry, in Helen’s name.
A special thank you to all her caregivers over the past years, at this most difficult time of saying goodbye to our loved one. — the family of Helen Louise (Smoot) Peterson.
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