Dorothy M. Petersen

Sheldon, Iowa

Dorothy M. Petersen, 92, of Sheldon, passed away on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Sanford Sheldon Medical Center. Her funeral service will be at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sheldon with Rev. Christopher Martin, officiating.

To view Dorothy's livestream, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/@StPaulSheldon/streams

Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Jackson, Minnesota.

Visitation with family present will be from 10 to 10:45 A.M. on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sheldon.

Arrangements are under the care of the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon.

IN LOVING MEMORY

DOROTHY M. PETERSEN

BORN

April 16, 1934

Niobrara, Nebraska

PASSED AWAY

April 25, 2026

Sheldon, Iowa

FUNERAL SERVICE

11:00 A.M. Wednesday, April 29, 2026

St. Paul Lutheran Church; Sheldon, Iowa

Rev. Christopher Martin – Officiating

MUSIC

“I Can Only Imagine”

Sung by: Brian Tutje

CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS

“How Great Thou Art”

“Amazing Grace”

Organist: Barb Burns

CASKET BEARERS

Shawn Wassenaar 

Troy Wassenaar

Jesse Wassenaar

 Peyton Petersen

Paul Youngers 

Angie Lindberg

Jennifer Gullickson 

Reece Petersen

FINAL RESTING PLACE

Riverside Cemetery

Jackson, Minnesota

After today’s service, relatives and friends are invited to join the family in the fellowship hall of the church.

Arrangements are under the care of the

Vander Ploeg Funeral Home; Sheldon, Iowa.

Dorothy Mae Petersen, the daughter of Charles T. and Lillian (Ballentine) Burrus, was born April 16, 1934, in Niobrara, Nebraska. She moved to Jackson, Minnesota with her family in 1950. On February 20, 1955, Dorothy united in marriage to Arthur Petersen at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Jackson, Minnesota. The couple made their home on a farm near Petersburg, Minnesota where they farmed until 1969. They moved to Sheldon, Iowa and owned and operated the Sheldon Motel until 1977. They then purchased the A&W Restaurant and operated it until 1989. Dorothy was a cashier at Joyce’s foods and after it closed, she did grocery shopping for the residents of Village Northwest Unlimited. Dorothy passed away surrounded by her family on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the age of 92 years and nine days.

Dorothy was a member of St. Paul Lutheran church in Sheldon. Dorothy was a wonderful cook and hosted many family gatherings. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles and watching golf on TV. She enjoyed live webcams of eagles and their nests.

Those left to cherish her memory are her five children: Kevin (Noreen) Petersen, Bradley Petersen, Kristi (Wade) Wassenaar, all of Sheldon. Charles (Paula) Petersen of Lowry, Minnesota, and Mark (Ann) Petersen of Sanborn, Iowa. Eight grandchildren; seventeen great Grandchildren; siblings, Edith Rohde of Randolph, Nebraska and Tom Burrus of Tacoma, Washington; also, other relatives and friends.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Lillian, stepmother, Genevieve, husband, Arthur, sisters, Myra (Donald) Gronlund, Lois (Arel) Anderson, Betty (Clarence) Konken, Brothers, Willard (Thelma), Earl, Bobby, Jim (Dorothy) and Richard, and brother-in-law, Merle Rohde.