Marlys I. Peterson

Marlys I. Peterson, age 94, of Alexandria, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 24, 2025, at Grand Arbor Senior Living in Alexandria.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria, with Pastor Angie Larson officiating. Inurnment will take place at a later date at Barrett Union Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 9:30–11 a.m. prior to the service at the church.

Marlys Ione was born on May 24, 1931, to Albert and Amanda (Weossner) Mattson in Lien Township near rural Barrett. She was raised on the family farm southwest of Barrett and graduated from Barrett High School in 1948. She continued her education at Moorhead State Teachers College, earning her teaching degree, and later received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Minnesota, Morris. Many children in Barrett got their start in school with Mrs. Peterson, where she taught kindergarten and first grade from 1962 to 1982. Marlys married Frank Peterson on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 1951. Together they raised four children and shared 74 years of marriage. Throughout their lives, they made homes in Barrett; Morris; Bismarck, North Dakota; Rockford, Illinois; Maple Grove; Mesa, Arizona; and finally Alexandria. Marlys had a devoted faith and actively participated in every church community she was part of, most recently at Calvary Lutheran. She leaves a legacy as a consummate homemaker, loving to cook, bake, sew, garden, and craft.

She is preceded in death by her parents.

Marlys is survived by her husband, Frank; children, Gwen (Gary) Marshall of Hawley, Lee (Darlene) Peterson of Orono, Lane Peterson of New Richmond, Wisconsin, and Kim (Scott) Borgstahl of Alexandria; sister, Vivian Mattson; 11 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren.