Mary Ann Petersen

Mary Ann (Campbell) Petersen of Albert Lea, MN passed away on Monday, January 6, 2025 at St. John’s Lutheran home, surrounded by her children. She was 87 years old. 

Mary Ann was born on May 7, 1937, in Rochester, Indiana, to Frederic P. and Mavourneen Campbell. She grew up in Leiters Ford, Indiana, and attended Richland Center Schools. On July 3, 1964, she was united in marriage to John R. Petersen in Elwood, Indiana. She moved to Albert Lea in 1964. Mary Ann and John raised 2 children, Patricia and Randall. Mary Ann also has a stepson, Michael Baker who resides in Broadhead, Kentucky. 

Mary Ann was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Mary Ann was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, past Commander of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, Danish Brotherhood, and the Alano Society. She was a lifetime member of the Women of the Moose and past Senior Regent, as well as past President and SE District Representative of the Freeborn County Home Council. Mary Ann and John enjoyed traveling. They traveled to Branson, Missouri several times per year, and had many friends there. Mary Ann and John traveled to all 50 states, and Canada. She also enjoyed traveling to Indiana to visit her family. She enjoyed gardening and working with her flowers and flower gardens in her yard. She and John tended the flowers at Trinity Lutheran Church, and the Albert Lea Armory. Mary Ann very much enjoyed decorating her house and her yard. While she lived at St. John’s, everyone commented about how nicely Mary Ann decorated her apartment and later her room. Mary Ann worked as a bookkeeper for several area businesses, including Porter Beverage and Pederson Industrial Sales. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Mavourneen Campbell, sisters: Mildred Davis, Barbara Endress, Sarah Joan Miller, Martha Jane Buckles, and Ruth Marie Priebe. Brothers: Kenneth (Pat) Campbell, Freddie C. Campbell, Tommie Lee Campbell, Edwin Vern (Mike) Campbell, and James Dale Campbell, her husband John R. Petersen, and stepson James Baker. 

She is survived by her children Patricia (Kevin) Peek, Randall (Lynn) Petersen, and stepson Michael (Shaunna) Baker, 9 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea on Friday, January 17, from 5-7 pm. A funeral service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Albert Lea on Saturday, January 18 at 11:00 am. with visitation 1 hour prior to the service. 

The family requests that memorials be made to St. John’s Lutheran Community, St. Croix Hospice, and Trinity Lutheran Church. The family would like to thank St. John’s of Fountain Lake staff, and St. Croix Hospice staff for their loving care of our mother/grandmother.