Aug. 24, 1928 - Jun. 26, 2016
Date of Service: Jul. 6, 2016
Leona Justina Petersen
RUPERT - Leona Justina Petersen, 87, passed away after a long battle with dementia and Alzheimer’s early Sunday morning, June 26, 2016, at Bridgeview Estates in Twin Falls, Idaho. She was reunited with her eternal companion, Dale H. Petersen; her two sons, Kenneth Leland and Michael Dale Petersen; her oldest grandson, Travis Michael Petersen; as well as her parents and siblings.
Leona was born in St. Louis, Mo., on Aug. 24, 1928, to Michael and Katherine Chamanick Tustanowski. She had four siblings, Nick Tustanowski, Paul (Jeannette) Tustanowski, Rosemary (Chuck) Zeni, and Joseph Tustanowski.
She married Dale Howard Petersen on June 1, 1946, and they were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Twin Falls Idaho LDS Temple, fulfilling a decades’-long wish of her husband, prior to his passing in December of 2006.
Leona loved to fish and was an excellent cook (best pierogis and homemade strawberry jam ever). She also loved to play bingo at the Senior Citizen Center in Rupert when they would stop in Laughlin on their winter trips to and from Yuma, Ariz., and at Bridgeview. She enjoyed her exercise classes at Bridgeview and loved to do crafts. She and Dale loved to play cards and domino games wherever they were.
Leona loved her sister-in-law, Violet Benson, as they became fast friends when Leona joined the rather large Petersen family. Violet and her husband, George, have been there for Leona over the years and have taken very good care of her right up until she passed - even though Leona no longer knew who they were. Another friend they made when they moved to Rupert was Ron Clawson, who also has been there in any capacity needed, and the remaining family wishes to thank each of them for their sacrifices and service over the years.
Leona is survived by her youngest son, Scott (Veronica) Petersen of Glendora, Calif.; granddaughters, Tina Petersen Murphy of Hailey, and Krystal Lee Ann (Brent) Bass of Wilmington, NC; a grandson, Trenton James Petersen of Hailey; great-grandsons, Chase Murphy and Axl Bass; her niece and goddaughter, Cathy Zeni Paulsmeyer; nieces, Michele Davis, Joan (Joe) Watkins, Eileen Klute, Charlene (Joe) Connoly, Carol Tustanowski, and Glenna Tustanowski; nephews, Robert (Shelba) Tustanowski and Charles (Pat) Zeni; as well as other brothers and sisters-in-law; and nieces and nephews on both her and Dale’s sides of their families.
A graveside service will be held at 12 noon Wednesday, July 6, at the Hailey Cemetery, 541 Fox Acres Road, in Hailey. Family and friends will then gather at a local restaurant to visit and reminisce.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Rasmussen Funeral Home of Burley.
