Mary Louise Peterson, 92, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home in Austin.

Mary was born Feb. 6, 1925, in Rochester, Minnesota, to Ross Emerson and Josephine Marie (Maxson) Hilliard. She attended school in Kasson, Minnesota, graduating in 1944. On June 28, 1944, Mary was united in marriage to Carlos Marvin Peterson in Kasson. Together the couple had seven children. Mary worked as a nanny to Walter Stussy and other children in the Kasson area. She enjoyed her role as wife, mother, and homemaker. Mary was a member of the St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in rural Waltham, Minnesota, and a former member of St. Olaf Lutheran and Grace Lutheran Churches in Austin. She loved to put together puzzles, enjoyed playing cards, bingo, and taking trips to the casino. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Survivors include her children, Gerald (Cathy) Peterson of Rochester, Daniel Peterson of Amery, Wisconsin, Charles (Jean) Peterson of Faribault, Minnesota, Don Peterson of Amery, David (Mary) Peterson of Faribault, Karen (Gary) Schulz of Carroll, Iowa, and Mary Ann (Burton) Ruhter of Brownsdale, Minnesota; 17 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; sister, Joan Simonson of Farmington Hills, Michigan; and sister-in-law, Dorothy Hilliard of Kasson. Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three brothers, Charles (Evelyn) Hilliard, Oscar Hilliard, and Robert Hilliard; and her sister, Peggy (Orville) Starkson.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017, at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in rural Waltham, with Pastor Dwight DoBell officiating. Interment will be in St. Michael’s Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. at Worlein Funeral Home in Austin and will continue on Wednesday morning for one hour prior to services at church. Memorials can be directed to St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in rural Waltham or St. Mark’s Lutheran Home in Austin.

Services prearranged and performed by Worlein Funeral Home of Austin. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.