Pete And Glatha Petersen

W.O. “Pete” Petersen and Glatha E. Petersen passed away together in a convalescent center on November 9, 2006.

Wilhelm Ostergaard Petersen was born on March 12, 1916 to Aksel Petersen and Neilsina Ostergaard Petersen in Withrow, Washington.

Glatha Ellen Kiser Petersen was born on June 10, 1912 to William Kiser and Martha Seals Kiser in Wenatchee, Washington.

Glatha’s journey took her to College Place, Washington, schooling at Upper Columbia Academy, and on to nurse training in Spokane where she received her R.N. cap in 1938. She and her first husband, Russell Bradshaw, were married on November 18, 1940 in Hawaii. He was in the Navy and Glatha was working at a Honolulu hospital when Pearl Harbor was attacked. After the war, they moved to Wenatchee and later owned a fishing resort north of Spokane on Twin Lakes. Russ passed away in 1957. They had no children.

Pete lived with his Aunt and Uncle until he left school and apprenticed to a carpenter at age 16. He worked on a variety of construction jobs until being drafted into the Army in 1944. Pete served in the South Pacific and was proud of his duty. He married Betty Thomas in 1944 and four children were eventually born – Michael Allen, Paula Ray, Becky Ann and Jan David. They divorced in 1959.

Pete and Glatha met on a blind date and were married in Las Vegas on January 30, 1960. Over the next eight years, they traveled all of the western states while Pete supervised the construction of large commercial buildings for Central Coast Construction out of Berkeley, CA.

In 1968, they retired to Medford where they bought property and built the home they enjoyed for the next 37 years. They traveled extensively in their pickup and fifth wheel trailer. They entertained many friends and travelers at their home over the years.

Survivors include Mike Petersen of Walla Walla, WA, Paula Gay of Lacey, WA, Becky Saraceno of Medford, OR and Jan Petersen of Ward Cove, AK; Glatha’s half-sister Mary Felch, and Pete’s half-sister Audrey Brown and half-brothers Don and Henry Petersen.

Memorial services are scheduled for 10 am at the Eagle Point National Cemetery, Section C, and at the family home at 2 pm on Saturday, November 25, 2006.