Joanne (Smolak) Peterson
Rev. Joan "Jo" C. Peterson, 61, a longtime Williston resident, passed away Sunday morning,
November 4, 2007, at Trinity Hospital in Minot, ND.
A memorial service celebrating her life was held Friday morning, November 9, 2007, at 10:00 AM at
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Rev. Marianne Ell, Bishop Michael Smith and Rev. Randy Keehn all
presided.
Cremation has taken place and interment will occur at a later date.
Joan was born March 20, 1946 in Plentywood, Montana to Vernon "Red" and Marian (Nelson)
Smolak. She was raised in Plentywood where she graduated from high school in 1964. For a
time Jo worked for a local chiropractor, and for a brief period worked part-time at the ACS office in
Culbertson, MT.
On February 28, 1968 she was united in marriage to Del Peterson at the Pella Lutheran Church in
Sidney, MT. The couple first made their home in Culbertson.
Rev. Joan "Jo" C. Peterson, 61, a longtime Williston resident, passed away Sunday morning,
November 4, 2007, at Trinity Hospital in Minot, ND.
A memorial service celebrating her life was held Friday morning, November 9, 2007, at 10:00 AM at
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Rev. Marianne Ell, Bishop Michael Smith and Rev. Randy Keehn all
presided.
Cremation has taken place and interment will occur at a later date.
Joan was born March 20, 1946 in Plentywood, Montana to Vernon "Red" and Marian (Nelson)
Smolak. She was raised in Plentywood where she graduated from high school in 1964. For a
time Jo worked for a local chiropractor, and for a brief period worked part-time at the ACS office in
Culbertson, MT.
On February 28, 1968 she was united in marriage to Del Peterson at the Pella Lutheran Church in
Sidney, MT. The couple first made their home in Culbertson.
| . . . . in Memory of . . . . |
It was in Culbertson that she started as a dental assistant for Dr. Robert Kemp. After Dr. Kemp relocated to Williston, Jo traveled to and from
his dental office there for several years until she and Del themselves moved to Williston. She enjoyed a thirty-nine year career with the
Kemps and their associates, and at the time of her death was the Office Manager of Kemp Dentistry
The Rev. Joan Peterson was baptized and confirmed Lutheran. On April 22, 1990 she was received into the Episcopal Church. She served
on many committees, was a Eucharistic Minister, and was treasurer of Episcopal Church Women for many years. Joan’s commitment to St.
Peters and her leadership role, particularly during times when there was no priest, led the congregation in 1993 to choose her and The Rev.
Randy Keehn to pursue local ordination with the support of a ministry team. After many years of study, both were ordained Deacons on
January 30th, 1999 and Ordained Priests on October 3, 1999.
Joan sensed a call to ordained ministry since she was 8 years old and was passionate about worship and ministry. She loved serving as
priest and served St. Peters and St. Michael and All Angels (Cartwright, ND) with deep devotion and care. Several times a year Joan lead
worship for St. John’s in Dickinson. Despite her long and difficult battle with cancer, she had a strong will to live and continued to serve
Christ faithfully. She touched many lives in small, deep, caring ways. Her faith, courage, sense of humor, and hope remain the witness of
her life and service.
She was a cancer survivor of 16 years.
Joan is survived by her husband, Del Peterson of Williston; a daughter, Linea Peterson of Williston; two brothers, Leonard Smolak of
Billings, MT and Rick Smolak and his wife, Lisa, of Salt Lake City, UT; a sister, Barbara Ferguson and her husband, Tom, of Plentywood;
and her aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Kristen Peterson, her parents, and an infant
brother.
In lieu of flowers the family desires that memorials be directed to St. Peters and St. Michael Scholarship Fund or the Linea Peterson Trust
Fund. Friends called at the church on Friday for the hour preceding the memorial service. The Everson Funeral Home of Williston, ND is
caring for the family.
his dental office there for several years until she and Del themselves moved to Williston. She enjoyed a thirty-nine year career with the
Kemps and their associates, and at the time of her death was the Office Manager of Kemp Dentistry
The Rev. Joan Peterson was baptized and confirmed Lutheran. On April 22, 1990 she was received into the Episcopal Church. She served
on many committees, was a Eucharistic Minister, and was treasurer of Episcopal Church Women for many years. Joan’s commitment to St.
Peters and her leadership role, particularly during times when there was no priest, led the congregation in 1993 to choose her and The Rev.
Randy Keehn to pursue local ordination with the support of a ministry team. After many years of study, both were ordained Deacons on
January 30th, 1999 and Ordained Priests on October 3, 1999.
Joan sensed a call to ordained ministry since she was 8 years old and was passionate about worship and ministry. She loved serving as
priest and served St. Peters and St. Michael and All Angels (Cartwright, ND) with deep devotion and care. Several times a year Joan lead
worship for St. John’s in Dickinson. Despite her long and difficult battle with cancer, she had a strong will to live and continued to serve
Christ faithfully. She touched many lives in small, deep, caring ways. Her faith, courage, sense of humor, and hope remain the witness of
her life and service.
She was a cancer survivor of 16 years.
Joan is survived by her husband, Del Peterson of Williston; a daughter, Linea Peterson of Williston; two brothers, Leonard Smolak of
Billings, MT and Rick Smolak and his wife, Lisa, of Salt Lake City, UT; a sister, Barbara Ferguson and her husband, Tom, of Plentywood;
and her aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Kristen Peterson, her parents, and an infant
brother.
In lieu of flowers the family desires that memorials be directed to St. Peters and St. Michael Scholarship Fund or the Linea Peterson Trust
Fund. Friends called at the church on Friday for the hour preceding the memorial service. The Everson Funeral Home of Williston, ND is
caring for the family.
| 1946 - 2007 |
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