Margaret Peterson

Margaret Isabella Mackenzie Peterson … "Peg" … was born in Casper, Wyoming July 10, 1928. God called her home June 8, 2013 after 3 days at Wyoming Medical Center where she was surrounded by friends and family.

Peg grew up in Casper's Scottish community. Born in Scotland, her dad was a sheepherder on the BB Brooks ranch before taking a job in town after her Scottish mom died when she was 7. Two years later, a family friend took Peg and her younger sister, Mary, to Scotland on a "visit" to meet Peg's parents' families. The girls were overseas for 3 ½ years. Part of that time, they were in the High-lands of Scotland, but the larger part of their stay they lived in England at St. James Palace where their mom's sister was head housekeeper for King Edward before his abdication. The girls loved to explore the palace, and once tomboy Peg couldn't resist climbing up to the throne and rolling down the thickly carpeted steps. She landed at the feet of the King who found her antics humorous. Peg & Mary returned to Wyoming in '39 by order of the U.S. State Department as WW II was escalating. Boarding a ship in Glasgow at the ages of 11 and 7, they crossed the Atlantic alone. The USO put them on a train to Wyoming where they were reunited with their dad.

Peg graduated from Natrona County High School in 1946 and from nursing school Omaha in 1949. Soon after, she married her "Swedish farmer" from Iowa, Norm Peterson, whom she met while in nursing school. Peg helped Norm run their Iowa dairy farm, began to practice nursing, and became a mom to daughter Phyllis during their Iowa years.

In the mid '50s, Peg, Norm and Phyllis moved back to Casper. Peg and Norm joined First Presbyterian, where she had been baptized at the age of 3 weeks and first become a member at 14. Over the years Peg was an elder, a member of the choir, on the Worship Ministry and most recently a vital member of the church's Elder Ministry. In the 90s, she was active in the Presbytery of Wyoming as a member of the Committee on Ministry and an elder commissioner to the General Assembly. Peg was known by many in Casper as "Dr. Young's nurse" or "Dr. Mahnke's nurse." Between them, she worked at Casper Clinic 30 years.

Peg is survived by her daughter Phyllis of Casper, her brothers-in-law Daryl Peterson (Velma), Iowa, and Larry Peterson, California, eight nieces and nephews, and her family at First Presbyterian Church of Casper. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Norm and her sister Mary. Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.