Rose F. Peterson

Rose "Rosie" Florence (Hanisch) Peterson, 96, of Montrose, passed away on Saturday, October 11, at Edgewood Prairie Crossings Assisted Living in Sioux Falls where she had been a resident since February 2023.

Rosie was born on a farm by Canistota, SD on September 27, 1929 to William J. and Alvina (Kobberman) Hanisch. She attended school at St. Mary's in Salem and St. Ann's in Humboldt and boarded there until her family moved into Humboldt since there were no bus routes. She graduated in 1947. While she was in school, she was a waitress for the Humboldt Cafe. She played clarinet and piano and took accordion lessons from Williams Piano Company in Sioux Falls.

After graduation, she was the switchboard operator for the Farmers Telephone Company and took time to drive truck for her dad delivering gas and fuel to Farmers Union customers. She also drove his school bus to Wall Lake for the nuns and boarders to go roller skating. One of her memorable moments was playing accordion over the Watertown radio station for the Farmers Union Oil Company.

Her husband Hobart "Pete" came to Montrose as a teacher in 1950. In 1953 they went on a blind date after a prom and were married in 1955 at St. Ann's Catholic church. They lived in Montrose where she worked at the City Cafe, Sioux Valley Telephone Company of Dell Rapids, Tibio Market, and Minnegasco Gas Company. She also drove the Montrose school bus as a substitute and for out of town basketball games and for several baseball teams that her husband coached.

Rosie worked as the McCook County Deputy Assessor for 25 years, retiring in 1996. After retirement she helped out in the Wegener Abstract Office and Sheriff's Department. Pete and Rosie bought a camper with their family on Enemy Swim Lake where they enjoyed fishing and collecting several proud angler pins and playing cards with friends and family for over 16 years.

As an avid crafter, she loved to sew, crochet, embroider and use a glue gun. Most of her family and friends have received a set of her embroidered dish towels. She also loved collecting things, especially Mickey and Minnie Mouse items. You could also find the coffee pot on for company when she lived in Montrose. She enjoyed meeting new friends at Edgewood, joining in their various activities, especially craft events and Bingo.

Rosie was a member of the St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Altar Society and American Legion Auxiliary and a volunteer escort at the VA Hospital. She held many chair positions in the auxiliary and received many awards including Legionette of the Unit, SD State Legionette and state poppy display. As a member of the sextet, she sang at the Sioux Falls arena during the John Kennedy and Richard Nixon campaign.

Grateful for having shared her life are her son, Michael (Deborah) Peterson, daughter, Debra (Tim) Carlson, all in Sioux Falls; 6 grandchildren, Jeff Peterson, Jessica (Ryan) Howe, Jeremy (Alison) Carlson, Stacy Ahlquist, Lacey Larson, all in Sioux Falls and Brittney Larson in Luverne, MN; 7 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren; sister Josephine (Dale) Herrboldt; brothers Eugene (Janet), LaMar (Karen), Sylvester (Shirley), and Loyd (Becky), special niece and weekly visitor at Edgewood Lori (Steve) Mehlhaff, and many other nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Hobart "Pete" Peterson, parents William and Alvina Hanish, sisters LaVonne, Barbara, Clementine, and Donna, a brother William Goerge, and nieces Cindy, Christy, Dawn and Becky.

Visitation will be at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Montrose on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 from 6 pm to 7 pm with family present. Rosary and prayer service will begin at 7 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at 10:30 am at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Montrose with lunch to follow. Burial will be at the St. Patrick's Catholic cemetery.