Obituary of Ranae J Peterson

Ranae J. Peterson, age 89, died Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 9:15am.

She was born July 25, 1934 in Huron, SD, daughter of Henry and Lucile Lehr. She grew up in Billings, MT and Sioux Falls, SD, where she graduated from Washington High School in 1952. She attended South Dakota State College for two years, transferring to the University of South Dakota and graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1956. She was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa honor society and was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, social sorority. Recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship she spent the academic year 1956-57 at the University of Dijon, France, and then travelled extensively in Europe. She returned to the University of South Dakota and received an MA in Contemporary French Literature in 1958. From 1958 through 1966 she was a member of the Modern Foreign Language Department faculty of Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN. In 1979 she returned to Gustavus as a member of the Academic Dean’s administrative staff, involved with curriculum review and reform with special attention to the alternative General Education program, Curriculum II. She retired in 1994.

She was married to Robert A Peterson on June 10, 1961, she is survived by sons Mark (Brenda) and Kip (Heidi), grandchildren Erik (Brittany), Cole (Allie), Aaron and Molly and great-grandsons Braydon and Carson.

She enjoyed foreign and domestic travel, time at the lake, sports events (on professional, collegiate and grandchildren levels), embroidery, gourmet recipes, crossword puzzles and literature – her favorite store being Barnes and Noble – for books and coffee.

Private interment will take place at Resurrection Cemetery in St. Peter, MN. Memorials preferred to the Ranae J and Robert A Peterson Scholarship Fund, Gustavus Adolphus College or First Lutheran Church, St Peter, MN.