Elizabeth "Bette" Peterson

The funeral service celebrating the life of Elizabeth “Bette” Peterson of Wadena, will be held at 11:00a.m. on Friday, August 15, at the Verndale Community Church in Verndale, with Pastor Ken Uhren presiding. Visitation will be at the Johnson-Schuller Chapel in Wadena on Thursday, from 5:00 until 7:00p.m. and will continue at the church on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be in Green Lawn Cemetery, Verndale, MN. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You are invited to watch the service via live-stream by going to Schuller Family Funeral Homes' Facebook Page or YouTube Page ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bette, age 91, passed away on August 6, 2025, at St. Williams Living Center in Parkers Prairie, MN. Elizabeth “Bette” was born to Michael and Mae (Tranby) Kempe at their home in Bluffton, MN, on September 7, 1933 and was baptized three days later at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. She completed high school in Verndale with the Class of 1951. Bette married Donald Palmer Peterson of Barron, WI, on February 17, 1968, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Verndale. She was employed as a head teller in the banking industry having worked at F&M Bank in New York Mills, two banks in Denver, CO, 1st Bank in Minneapolis, Franklin Bank, Virginia Bank and US Bank before retiring in 1988. Away from work, Bette spent time hunting, fishing, playing cards, piecing together picture puzzles, and she had an eye for cars. Most of all, Bette enjoyed being with her family, friends and church family. Her favorite title was “Aunt Bette”. She devoted time to the England Prairie Pioneer Club, the Verndale and the Wadena Historical Societies, and with the US Bank Retiree volunteers. In addition, Bette was an active member and bookkeeper at the Wadena Senior Citizen Center. Preceding Bette in death were her husband, Don (2004); parents, Michael and Mae; brother Robert and wife Betty Kempe; and parents-in-law, Palmer and Marie (Olson) Peterson. Surviving Bette are her nephews Brad (Mary Dee) Kempe of Verndale and Rodney (Brenda) Kempe of Hewitt and their families; along with extended family, neighbors and friends. Honorary casket bearers will be Bette’s cousins. Serving as casket bearers will be Jason Kempe, Ryan Kempe, John Kempe, David Wenker, Logan Voge and Eugene Boelz.

Elizabeth "Bette" Peterson

September 7, 1933 - August 6, 2025