Esther Emily Barnes [63702]

   Another name for Esther was Esther E. Petersen.

  General Notes:

Esther E. Petersen
Funeral Service: 2:00 P.M. Thursday, January 12, 2006 at the United Methodist Church in DeWitt, NE.

Esther E. Petersen, 97 years of age, of Lincoln, NE., formerly of DeWitt, NE. passed away at the Gateway Manor in Lincoln, NE. Monday afternoon, January 9, 2006. She was born on December 31, 1908 at Ainsworth, NE. and was a 1926 graduate of Ainsworth High School in Ainsworth, NE. She attended Chadron State College in Chadron , NE. and was a 1935 graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, NE. and had some further study at the University of Chicago in Chicago, Ill. She taught elementary school in Brown County, in DeWitt, NE., and in Lincoln, NE. before her marriage. She and Ralph W. Petersen were married on June 18, 1939 in Lincoln, NE. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in DeWitt, NE. since 1940, and a former Sunday School teacher and member of the U.M.W. of the church. She was a former member of the DeWitt Book Club and a former Blood Bank Volunteer.

Survivors include her daughter Janice Johnson and her husband Paul of Taos, N.M.; son Gary Petersen and his wife Allison of Walton, NE.; grandchildren and spouses Lee Totman and wife Trisha, Ken Totman and wife Maria, Daniel Petersen and wife Sondra, and Megan Petersen; step grandson and spouse Cleland Johnson and wife Etsuko; 7 great grandchildren and 1 step great grandson; sister in law Harriet Fort of DeWitt, NE.; brother in law Richard Petersen of Lincoln, NE.; special care giver Kathy Liebers of Lincoln, NE.; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents LeRoy and Ida (McAndrew) Barnes; husband Ralph Petersen (1993); brothers Paul and Dale Barnes; and sister Ruth Modesitt.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, January 12, 2006 at the United Methodist Church in DeWitt, NE. with Reverend Mary-Ellen Gaither officiating. Interment will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery in DeWitt, NE. The body will lie in state Wednesday from 1-9:00 and Thursday from 8-12:00 P.M. at the Venrick-Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in DeWitt, NE. and at the church one hour preceding the service on Thursday. A family prayer service will be held at 1:45 P.M. Thursday at the church. A memorial has been established to the United Methodist Church in DeWitt, NE. and the Gateway Manor Foundation in Lincoln, NE. with Russell and Meryl Zimmerman in charge. Messages of condolence may be sent to rich@griffithshovendick.com. They will be forwarded to the family.

The Venrick-Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in DeWitt, NE. is in charge of the services.

Esther married Ralph William Petersen [63696] [MRIN: 23460], son of Vilhelm Pedersen [63689] and Ane Marie Pedersen [63694], on 18 Jun 1939 in Lincoln, Kearney County, Nebraska, United States. (Ralph William Petersen [63696] was born on 22 Jun 1908 in Axtell, Kearney County, Nebraska, United States, died on 29 Jan 1993 in Nebraska, United States and was buried in Feb 1993 in Oak Grove Cemetery, De Witt, Saline County, Nebraska, United States.)