Bessie Irene Peterson, age 77 of Halfway, passed away Saturday, Nov. 24 at her home. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 2 p.m. in the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church in Halfway. Rev. Judy Marshall officiated and interment followed in Pine Haven Cemetery, Halfway.
Mrs. Peterson was born on May 12, 1907 in Halfway, the daughter of Ira and Maude Myrtle (McMullen), the granddaughter of pioneers Ira and Susan (Bragg) McMullen and Thomas Ramsey and Laura (Stout) Coggan Irwin Jr.
A lifetime Halfway resident, Mrs. Peterson graduated from Pine Valley High School in 1926. She married Dick D. Peterson in Baker December 31, 1927.
Her marriage to Dick took them to Cornucopia in 1938 where they operated the Copia Cash Grocery and Dick’s Place until 1942. After moving back to Halfway they owned and operated the Peterson Insurance Agency until 1977.
Mrs. Peterson was involved in the building of Halfway, belonging to the Ladies Aux. of the VFW, the Rebekah Lodge, and Pine Eagle Dairyman’s Assn. and participated in numerous other civic functions throughout the years, making Halfway what it is today.
Mrs. Peterson is the last one of her generation. She is survived by her son Duane Irwin Peterson of Spokane; 5 grandchildren, Robert Lee Peterson, Dawn Marie West, Sandra Kay Schaich, Richard Clyde Peterson and Mary Lynn Peterson, all from Washington State; and many nieces and nephews and great grandchildren.
Mrs. Peterson was preceded in death by her husband in 1967, her parents, two brothers and one sister.
Visitations were at the mortuary Monday evening and at the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church from 11 a.m. on Tuesday until service time.
For those who wish, donations may be made to the Halfway Ambulance Fund, this may be done through the Langrell-Monroe Mortuary in Baker.
Source: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, November 29, 1984
Contributed by: Belva Ticknor