Eleanor Rachel Peterson

Eleanor Rachel Peterson, 92, of Cloquet, passed into Heaven to reside with her Lord on Saturday, April16, 2011. She was born in Duluth, Minnesota to Martha and Tom Berntsen. She married Harold J. Peterson in 1943 and together they enjoyed raising their three children, Sandra, Donald and David. Harold and Eleanor were charter members of Grace Baptist Church in Cloquet and were active members for over fifty years. Eleanor worked at Bergquist Imports for over twenty years and was very proud of her Norwegian ancestry. She was always active with youth as a Sunday school teacher and as an adult leader of the Sunnyside 4-H Club. Her favorite hobby was playing with and enjoying nature with her grandchildren. She loved picking berries and wildflowers in the deep forests of Northern Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold J. Peterson. Eleanor is survived by two sons, David (Judy) Peterson of Two Harbors and Donald (Sue) Peterson of Fairbanks, Alaska; daughter, Sandra (Thomas) Crotteau of Aitkin; eight grandchildren, Gina (Chris) Lemke, Thomas (Jennifer) Peterson, Kimberly (Nathan) Miller, Aelin (Luke) Allegood, Erin (John) Glas, Jason Peterson, Jon (Rubi) Peterson, and Tara (Joshua) Schoeller; 21 great grandchildren who were the "joys of her life", Alex, Ayla and Anthony Lemke, Simon and Annelise Miller, Jenna, Abbie, Ryan and Morgan Peterson, Elijah, Jonah, Isabelle and Eden Peterson, Parker and Eva Glass, Owen, Emmett, Eloise and Madeline Schoeller and Daya and Brecken Allegood; brothers and sisters, Beverly (Loren) Klemke, Elsie Berntsen, Ester Berntsen, Joyce (Warren) Jensen, Lester Berntsen, Herman Ziemer, Faye Berntsen, Mabel Westring, Floyd Berntsen and Erling Berntsen; and her sister-in-law, Hannah M. Johnson of Cloquet. Eleanor loved her "dozens" of Peterson and Berntsen nieces and nephews. The family expresses gratitude and appreciation to Vicki Anderson, MD, and the dedicated staff of Carlton Place and Inter-Faith Care Center who lovingly cared for our mom, grandmother and great grandmother, Eleanor, during her final days. Memorial Service were held on Saturday, April 30, 2011 in Atkins-Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th Street, Cloquet followed by refreshments in the Fireside Room of the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Inter-Faith Care Center.