June 1, 2011

Adella Petersen

Adella Lorraine Petersen, 81, New Town, died Sunday, May 22, 2011, in a Madison, Wis., hospital.
Adella was born Feb. 21, 1930, in Makoti, N.D., the daughter of Herman and Olga (Hauff) Schenfisch. She was raised in Makoti, and her family and the Petersen family became very close. The time that Adella and Darold spent together growing up established a lifelong friendship.
She attended school in Makoti, and graduated from Makoti High School in 1948. She then attended Minot Business College, graduating in 1949.
On Aug. 12, 1951, she was united in marriage to Darold Petersen at Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Makoti. They made their home in California until Darold was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force in 1954. They returned to Makoti, where they purchased the Reservation Exchange and started raising their family. During this time, Adella helped her father-in-law at the Makoti Post Office. In 1965, they purchased Lakeside State Bank and moved to New Town. She worked at the New Town Post Office and New Town High School. Adella then purchased a dress shop, which was renamed Dell's Dress Shop. From then on, she became known as "Dell". She sold the dress shop, but later managed the New Town Department Store.
 Dell was very active in her church and her community. She loved church circle, Bible Study and working on quilts. She knitted afghans for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was the hostess for many gatherings of family and friends, and loved to plan and prepare all the meals and to try a new recipe. Dell loved the outdoors and being outside caring for her flowers, garden and yard. She always raised beautiful flowers and a bountiful garden, which she shared, and she always canned and made salsa. Throughout her life, Dell was devoted to her family and she cherished spending time with them.
Dell is survived by: daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Scott Swenson of Watford City; sons & daughters-in-law: Brian and Nancy of Troy, Idaho, and Gary and Nancy of New Town; grandchildren, Heidi Rousseau (Chris) of Cloquet, Minn., Lindsay Ginter (Jeremy) of Lakeville, Minn., and Megan and Haley Petersen of New Town; great-grandchildren, Scott and Spencer Rousseau and Evan Ginter; sisters, Marvel Christenson (Raymond) of Plaza, and Sharon Leader (Kent) of Gahanna, Ohio; sisters-in-law, Luella and Bonnie Schenfisch of Makoti, Yvonne Petersen of Minot, Alice May Simpson of Phoenix, Ariz., Lois Arness (Alger) of Apache Junction, Ariz., Ardis Prets of San Antonio, Texas, and Norine Shamberger (Doug), Lake Almanor, Calif.; brothers-in-law, Reginald Petersen (Marge) of St. Paul, Minn., Jerry Petersen (Mary) of Bismarck, and Herb Johansen of Minot; step mother-in-law, Rose Petersen of Makoti; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Adella was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Darold, who died on Oct. 3, 2002; brothers, Harold and Helmet; sisters, Gloria Johansen and Wilma Wagner; and brothers-in-law, Clinton Petersen, Richard Prets, Richard Petersen, William Simpson and Curtis Wagner.

WATFORD CITY WEATHER