Ethel Peterson

Just shy of her 89th birthday, Ethel Peterson passed away on Oct. 18, 2010, in Canby, Ore., with family by her side.

Born Ethel Evelyn Hiatt on Oct. 30, 1921, in Dunseith, N.D., to Henry and Charlotte Hiatt, she was the fifth of eight children.

Ethel married Arthur Ziemann in 1941 and together they had four children. 

She later married Bob Clarkson, separating after a brief marriage.  In 1970, she moved from Medford, Ore., to Bonners Ferry, Idaho and married Maynard Peterson.

A memorial service was held Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010, at 1 p.m. at Medford Friends Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to your favorite charity in Ethel’s memory.

Ethel resided in Bonners Ferry for more than 40 years. After Maynard’s passing, Ethel found love again with long time partner Archie Donaldson and, later, companionship with Tom Copeland.

Ethel was a very outgoing, happy person, with many friends. In her younger days she enjoyed dancing, boasting that she danced at barn dances in North Dakota to music by Lawrence Welk before he became famous. 

She loved going to the bingo hall, playing Yahtzee, pinochle and other card games. Ethel enjoyed a good joke. Growing flowers and a vegetable garden, along with baking, gave her much joy. Later in life, Ethel had the pleasure of being a snowbird in the desert of California for a few winters.

Ethel is survived by her sister, Alice Dalbec; daughter Beatrice and her husband Jerry; son Allen and his wife Terrie; son Daryl and his wife Marcie; and daughter Colleen.

Ethel is also survived by her beloved six grandchildren; four great-grandsons; and one great-great granddaughter; and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Preceding her in death were her husbands, companions, parents, brothers Harold and Amos, and sisters Marie, Gladys, Lilly and Betty.