On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 6:48 pm, Nancy E. Peterson, surrounded by her loving husband, Lyle and her three daughters, Jill, Susie, and Nikki, peacefully ended her earthly journey at her cherished home on the farm in Isanti. At the age of 69, she was made whole by her Heavenly Father.
A celebration of Nancy’s life will take place at First Baptist Church 22940 Saint Francis Blvd. NW, St. Francis, MN 55070 on Saturday, July 12, at 3:00 pm, with a visitation time at 2:00 pm. Cemetery Interment at Lakeside Cemetery in Isanti to follow the light lunch fellowship after the service. In lieu of flowers, please direct all memorials to Saint Francis Christian School, the place where all three of Nancy’s girls graduated from, and where 7/10 grandchildren have, do, or will attend. Nancy was extremely generous and also extremely practical, and while she loved flowers and plants, she would want something tangible and useful to be directed in her memory.
Your presence would mean so much to our family as we remember and honor a life so well lived.
Nancy Elaine Peterson, passed away on June 24, 2025, at the age of 69, at her cherished home on the farm in Isanti, MN. She was a loving wife, devoted mom, cherished grandma, extraordinary nurse, dear friend, talented homesteader, and faithful follower of Jesus Christ.
Nancy was born in Denver, Colorado, on July 19, 1955, to Kenneth and Shirley Hooker. Nancy started her incredible 45-year nursing career in 1975 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado, and spent 41 years of her nursing career at the Cambridge Medical Center, where she left a lasting impact on just about everyone she met.
Nancy met Lyle Peterson, a teacher and farmer, in 1978, and they were married in Colorado on July 28, 1979. During their 45-year marriage, they encountered many wonderful times and many hard times, as the life of a nurse and a farmer is not easy. Together, they raised three girls, Jill, Susie, and Nikki, on the family farm in Isanti, Minnesota, and later on, enjoyed their 10 grandchildren together. Nancy was active in her church, First Baptist of St. Francis, faithfully serving in many ways.
On July 24, 2025, surrounded by her Lyle and her girls at her cherished home on the farm, Nancy was ushered into the presence of Jesus and made whole after suffering with behavioral variant frontal temporal dementia since 2022.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Shirley Hooker, her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Kenny and Bettie Peterson, her brother, Ken Jr. (Skip), 2 heavenly babies, and 3 heavenly grandbabies.
Nancy is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, Lyle, her three daughters, Jill (Ben Johnson) of St. Francis, Minnesota, Susie (Caleb Dickens) of Isanti, Minnesota, and Nikki (Randy Vawter) of Lakewood, Colorado; her 10 grandchildren, Canon, Lucas, and Alex Johnson, Bradee, Kobe, Beckham, and Zico Dickens, and Peyton, Jackson, and Stella Vawter, a brother, Richard Hooker (Jan) of Oregon, a sister-in-law, Sue (Colorado), a brother-in-law & sister-in-law, Leny & Joyce Greenberg (Cambridge, MN), a brother-in-law & sister-in-law, Russ & Barb Peterson (Isanti, MN), and many cousins, nieces, and nephews, whom she loved and cherished.
Special thanks to Brian Strike and Strike Life Tributes for the final care of our beloved Nancy.
I worked with Nancy for 30 years. She was kind and caring as both a friend and colleague. She is now whole and with Jesus.
When I started to attend SFBC, Nancy approached me and connected all the dots by telling me she used to work with my husband’s aunt. Nancy also blessed me with birthday cards writing the words that had an impact on my life. Someday we will meet in eternity again ❤️
The Peterson family was the first we met when we moved to St Francis in 1986. Lyle was always a huge help supporting my husband in the church an Nanby was an encouraging friend to me. We all remember her faithful birthday cards to us all and her cheerful and sunny disposition. We were blessed to have her in our lives
I’ve known the Peterson family since I was born and remember Lyle bringing Nancy to church. He was our youth director at the time so we were all excited he was getting married. We did some sort of skit in church acting out their dating or something :) I played Nancy.
What a wonderful, sweet, and kind person she was! How precious is the thought of her being with Jesus now! Lyle, you and your family, are in my thoughts and prayers.