Eleanor P. Pettersen, 100, went to her heavenly reward on January 13, 2026 at Oak View Assisted Living, Moose Lake, MN. She was born October 21, 1925 to Odin and Rena (Johnson) Hagen in New London, MN, graduating in 1943. She started Army Cadet Nurse’s training, earning her RN at Minneapolis Swedish Hospital in 1946. Eleanor met her future husband, George Pettersen, an orderly at Swedish Hospital and a U of M student aspiring to be an MD. They married January 15, 1947. Their son Charles was born in November 1947. The family moved to Mable, MN where George started his first medical practice and to Aitkin in 1957 where George and Dr. Richard Burman practiced medicine until 1971.
Eleanor went on many adventures during George’s career after Aitkin. They both served on Project Hope, a medical ship to Jamaica and Brazil. Later, the couple moved to Rochester where George became Olmsted County Health Director, then Minnesota State Commissioner of Health in Minneapolis from 1979 until 1983. They relocated to Redlands, CA where George became the San Bernardino County Director of Public Health until retirement in 1993.
Eleanor loved California, enjoyed traveling, was an avid knitter, played bridge and was a gourmet cook. She also enjoyed baking, making lefse, flat bread and entertaining guests.
After George’s death, Eleanor moved to Moose Lake, living at Oak View, earning the nickname “Grandma Feisty” from staff, who were wonderful to her. She often said she lived “a long and perfect life.”
Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents, sister Rhoda (Hagen) Benjamin, brother Phil Hagen, and her husband George Pettersen.
She will be greatly missed by her son Charles (Connie) Pettersen, granddaughters Karin (Grant) Jordahl and Katie Pettersen, great granddaughters Autumn and Violet Jordahl, plus numerous nieces and nephews.
The family thanks the wonderful staff at Oak View Assisted Living, Moose Lake Essentia Hospital and St. Croix Hospice for their amazing care. There will be a Celebration of Life at a later date at Ft. Snelling where she will be inurned with her husband. Memorials in Eleanor’s memory may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Arrangements by Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home, Moose Lake.
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