Obituary of Althea I. Petersen

Althea was born October 23, 1932, near Eden, Idaho to her parents Gerhard and Olga Krohn. She died on August 9, 2021, at Grace Assisted Memory Care in Twin Falls, Idaho of body fatigue. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Eden. Althea was raised on a farm with her six siblings, four brothers and two sisters. She learned the value of hard work from responsibilities both outdoors and inside the house. Apparently, she was a “bulls-eye” shooting robins with the .22 in the orchard! She often babysat for neighbors and cousins. Althea attended grade school in a one room school at Trinity Lutheran church and graduated from Eden High School in 1950. She played drums, served on student council, and participated in pep club, glee club and basketball in high school. Althea married Harry Petersen on October 1, 1950. They lived and worked on a lottery homestead farm on the Hunt Project north of Eden, Idaho. Harry built their first home, a small lava rock house with no running water. Their son, Kenneth, was born on July 9, 1951. Life was significantly upgraded, and daily tasks became much easier when they had a brick home built with plumbing in 1959! Marla, their daughter, was born May 14, 1960. Harry and Althea sold the farm in 1965 and moved to Brush, Colorado living there until 1975 when they returned to buy a farm near Jerome, Idaho. Althea was an exceptional homemaker! She loved to bake, cook, and can garden and orchard produce. We smile as we remember the delicious homemade treats and meals that she made for us! Danish ebelskiver, chili, pizza, and chocolate turtle cookies were family favorites. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, cross stitch, and sewing. Over the years family members were fortunate to receive precious gifts created by her talented mind and hands, such as blankets, baby sweaters, Halloween costumes and doll clothes. Althea tried to remember all her friends and relatives’ birthdays and special occasions by sending cards or making a phone call. She was very active in her church teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir, attending, and serving in women’s organizations and volunteering to help with cleaning and funerals. Althea worked at Moss Green House in Jerome for over 25 years. She made many lifelong friends with coworkers and customers she met while being surrounded by beautiful flowers from seedlings to blossoms. She was affectionately called “Big Al” around the greenhouses because of her tall stature of near 6 feet! Althea also worked for several years at the Twin Falls County fair in the Home Arts building assisting participants as they entered their handcrafts. She had great fun attending her children’s and grandchildren’s sporting, school, and musical events, making new friends along the way! Althea and Harry downsized into a duplex in Twin Falls, Idaho in 2010 and later into Grace Assisted Living. Being in “town,” away from wide open spaces and tweeting birds, was quite a change for both of them but they learned to adapt. Harry passed away in 2018 and Althea finished her life at Grace Memory Care. Althea was preceded in death by her parents, husband Harry, her brother and sisters, and Harry’s family. She is survived by son, Kenneth (Tammy) Petersen (Twin Falls); daughter, Marla Thompson (Boise); grandson, Josh Thompson (Boise); granddaughter Amber (Connor) Green and her great grandchildren Autumn and Jonah (Filer); grandson, Ryan (Ketchum); sister-in-law, Carolyn Krohn (Jerome) and many nieces and nephews. Althea was a Christian woman, an ambitious steward of her talents, and a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered! We wish to thank the caring staff of Grace Assisted Living and Memory Care for their kind, respectful and compassionate care with and for Althea. Memorial donations may be made to Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center, 112 Hospital Road, Brush Colorado 80723, or a favorite charity. Funeral services will be held Tuesday August 17, 2012, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1301 North Davis Street, Jerome, Idaho at 11:00 a.m. Arrangements are being handled by Rosenau Funeral Home. Respectfully we encourage you to wear a mask and social distance at the funeral. Obituary and other info: rosenaufuneralhome.com Web-cast link: https://my.gather.app/remember/althea-petersen