Zella Peterson

Zella Leone (Vivant) Peterson, age 60, of Blooming Prairie, passed away peacefully on the morning of Friday, April 15, 2011 at her daughters home in Comfrey surrounded by her family. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 2:00 PM at Dell Lutheran Church, rural Frost, with Rev. Joe Ocker and Rev. Dan Horn officiating. Burial will follow at Dell Lutheran Cemetery. Visiting hours will be from 4:00 to 8:00 PM Monday at Patton Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Blue Earth, and one hour prior to services at the church. Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.comZella Leone Vivant was born December 1, 1950 in Mora, MN the daughter of Fred and Iwylla (Tagtow) Vivant. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in McGrath, MN. She attended McGrath Public School and graduated in 1967. She then attended Brainerd Junior College and graduated with an Associate of Arts Degree in 1969. She was married to Irving Peterson on April 3, 1971 in McGrath. Zella and Irving lived in Ellsworth, MN until moving onto the Peterson farm near Frost in 1976. IN 1986 the family moved to Comfrey and in 1993 to Blooming Prairie as Irving served public schools as superintendent. During these years Zella held several jobs as a nurse''s aide, medical clinic receptionist, bus driver, church secretary and a day care provider. Zella was a fulltime childcare provider the past ten years for her grandchildren and other babies. Zella was a member of the McGrath VFW Auxillary, and several churches in the various communities in which they lived. She and Irving looked forward to traveling and enjoying family after Irving''s retirement in 2009 from Thief River Falls Public Schools. Zella is survived by her husband, Irving, four daughters: Andrea (Troy) Toll of Comfrey, Alisa (Matt) Nase of Lake Crystal, Jana Peterson of Willmar, Megan (Gabe) Hirsch of Mankato, one son, Joshua (Vida) Peterson of Duluth, her mother, Iwylla Vivant of Apple Valley, four brothers: Lloyd (Frances) Vivant of Lakeville, Gene (Roberta) Vivant of Inver Grove Heights, Ronald (Linda) Vivant of Cannon Falls, Fred (Colleen) Vivant of Northfield, one sister, Julie (Ron) Weiss of Forest Lake, Six grandchildren: Lexi, Jordan & Ashton Toll of Comfrey, Olivia, Nolan & Evan Nase of Lake Crystal and one grandson due in July 2011. Also surviving are sisters-in-law, Muriel (Darrel) Klenz of Fairmont and Alice Peterson of Mesa, Arizona and 28 nieces & nephews, and 39 grandnieces & grandnephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Fred Vivant, an infant sister, Rose, brother-in-law, Gordon Peterson, sister-in-law, Vivian Jelle, nephew, Andrew Weiss and an infant niece, Jelle.