Ruth C. Peterson

Service Details

A celebration of a life well lived will be held on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home.  A visitation will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.  Private interment will take place in West Lawn Memorial Park.

Ruth C. Peterson, age 99, of Racine, passed away on Monday, August 11, 2025.

Ruth was born in Sturtevant, WI on July 19, 1926, a twin daughter of the late Theodore B. and Anastacia (nee: Vrana) Meyer.  Her formative years were spent on the family farm in Franksville, which had been in the family for generations.

Prior to her marriage, Ruth was employed at Hamilton Beach Co. and as a switchboard operator for Wisconsin Telephone Co. in Racine.

On June 14, 1952, she was united in marriage to Walter F. Peterson at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Racine.  Sadly, he preceded her in death on June 5, 1987. Regarding Wally, Ruth had commented, “He was the one I wanted!”

Ruth was a generous, intelligent, and compassionate woman, extremely caring for her family, which she put above all else. She was known for her cooking and baking talents, especially her Christmas cookies. She hosted many parties and served many meals. Even late in life, she never forgot to offer pie or some other homemade treat to her guests. If one timed it right, she might have offered them homemade jam, salad direct from the garden, or grape juice from her garden vine. She also grew many flowers, one of her great joys. Whether cultivating vegetables, herbs or beautiful flowers, gardening was a big part of her life.

In her younger years she enjoyed travelling the U.S. while camping with her family. At home, her seamstress skills would blossom as she sewed countless clothing items for herself and her children. Although always busy with her family life, she managed to find time for a small club of women, where she enjoyed good food, conversation, and travel with her twin sister Marion and friends.

In her last days, her life was peaceful, enjoying visits from her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed laughter and fun times with the kids. Her favorite pastime was watching The Lawrence Welk Show.

Ruth is survived by her children, Kent Peterson, Kathleen (Jeff) Goodpaster, Randall Peterson, and Ronald (Lora) Peterson; her grandchildren, Allison (Justin) Mendez, Erin (Stefan) Matts, and Alyssa (Tiffany) Peterson, and her great grandchildren, Presley, Del, and Sebastian Mendez, Evie and Josie Matts, and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Along with her parents and husband, Ruth was preceded in death by her siblings, Wilfred Meyer, Raymond Meyer, her twin sister Marion Stanton, George Meyer, parents-in-law Fred and Esther Peterson, sisters-in-law Marie Meyer, Maria Von Schrader, Viola Desotel, and brother-in-law Leonard Stanton.