Dena Peterson

The theme of Dena Peterson's life was faith, family, and friends. All three of these were important to her.  She enjoyed her life's journey of 88 years and knew for certain her final heavenly destination. Dena Droogsma was born on a farm south of Pease, MN on August 18, 1922 to Henry and Anna Droogsma.  When she was 5 years old the family moved to Princeton, MN.  She was the 2nd in a family of 8 siblings.  She graduated as valedictorian of her class at Princeton High School and then attended Teachers Training in Princeton.  She taught school for 6 years in one room country schools in Mille Lacs and Isanti Counties.  She updated her teaching certificate at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan and also taught 1 year at Cuttlerville, Michigan. Dena was a very gifted teacher and continued throughout her life to share her wisdom and knowledge with others.  She led many small group Bible studies and would often give a special presentation at ladies events.  In recent years she used her Biblical knowledge to correspond and correct the work of prisoners taking a Bible correspondence course. On June 20, 1947 Dena married Vernon Peterson.  She willingly gave up her formal teaching career to become a full time housewife and mother.  She was very talented in many homemaker skills such as baking, sewing, and gardening.  Dena was very proud of her Dutch heritage but she also learned to cook lutefisk and especially lemon pie for Vernon. Dena and Vernon's family began with 2 daughters, Sharon & Arlyss.  As they grew, so did the family with the addition of spouses, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  After Sharon and Arlyss became adults, Dena and Vernon provided day care for Roxy and Scott Smetana.  There were many gatherings of family and friends at Vernon and Dena's home on Cross Lake in Pine City.  The neighborly friendliness of Vernon and Dena also bonded a special friendship with the Bacigalupi family.  There is a wide circle of family and friends who were touched by Dena and Vernon and most are bonded together through a strong faith in God.Dena kept busy with many other activities including weaving rugs.  She also enjoyed attending events and activities of her family and friends.  If she knew of an event being held or a friend who needed a ride you could count on her driving there whether it was in Pine City, Hinckley, Pease, or the Twin Cities.  Dena would always be ready and willing to play any kind of game with her grandchildren and they knew it would be a challenge to beat her at Scrabble.Dena's faith was evident to the final days of her life.  Her desire was to give God the glory through her ability to face one of life's toughest challenges.  She finished her life's race strong and has reached her final heavenly destination. Dena is survived by her 2 daughters, Sharon Salonek and Arlyss (Paul) Onken, 6 grandchildren:  Stacy (Aaron) Gunderson, Chad (Heidi) Salonek, Sara (Keith) Prevost, Susan Salonek, Jenny (Craig) Hedal, David (Heidi) Onken, and 6 great grandchildren:  Jacob and Abby Gunderson, Olivia and Carter Salonek, Riley and Gavin Prevost.  Special friends include Mike and Roxy Brown and Scott and Tracy Smetana and their children Zach and Gretchen Brown and Garret and Sonya Smetana.  Survivors also include a sister Florence Van De Riet, brothers Sid (Jean) Droogsma, Ray (Lil) Droogsma, sisters in law:  Joan Droogsma, Carolyn Droogsma, Naomi (Russel) Stay, and Luella Peterson as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.Dena was preceded in death by her husband Vernon, 2 brothers and 2 sisters. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 4th at the Christian Reformed Church of Pease with Pastor David Smit officiating.  Interment will be Thursday May 5th at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.  Visitation will be on Tuesday, May 3rd from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. with a 6:30 p.m. prayer service at Swanson Funeral Chapel, Pine City and 1 hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.