DELORIS EVELYN PETERSON, 91, of Downey, California, died on Monday, September 8, 2014, at Long Beach Community Hospital in Long Beach, California. She was born September 17, 1922, the daughter of George and Amanda Witheft, and grew up in Buckingham, Illinois. She was baptized as an infant, and confirmed as a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Herscher, Illinois in 1937. She graduated from Herscher High School and attended Gallagers School of Business in Kankakee, Illinois. Deloris married the late Elwood C. Peterson, on June 26, 1943. She worked as a bookkeeper at Al Kalie Music in Lakewood, California for a number of years and retired in 1987. She was an avid reader and enjoyed knitting, gardening and tending to dozens of hummingbirds in her backyard. She was a member of WAT (Women Alone Together) and enjoyed playing Bunko. Deloris was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Downey, California, and for many years volunteered in a group making quilts to benefit Lutheran Social Services.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by one son, Brent Lee Peterson, and her sister, Carol E. Nowack.

She is survived by one son, Randal (Rosalie) Peterson of Downey, California, and three daughters, Mija (Dick) Fremberg, of Surfside Beach, South Carolina, Tamara Peterson, of Brea, California, and Karen (Rudy) Matchinga, of Burbank, California; eight grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and her brother, Merlyn (Donna) Witheft, of Buckingham, Illinois.

A funeral service was held on Friday, September 12, 2014, at Messiah Lutheran Church in Downey, California, followed by interment at Rose Hills Memorial Park, in Whittier, California.

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Published: Oct. 30, 2014 - Volume 13 - Issue 29