Mary Joan Peterson's Obituary
Mary Joan Peterson, 91, died Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at her home in Escondido, CA. Born Mary Joan Drake on January 29, 1933, in Aberdeen, South Dakota, she lived in Escondido for 39 years.
She was Salutatorian at Aberdeen Central High School and studied Medical Technology at Northern State Teacher’s college (now Northern State University) in South Dakota, graduating in 1953.
In 1954, she married her High School sweetheart, Dean McCormack Peterson, a mechanical engineer who went on to revolutionize the photographic industry – twice https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_M._Peterson.
Mary and Dean had two children, Dr. Michael Dean Peterson, board-certified endodontist, and Marshall Drake Peterson, award-winning film and video producer.
Mary worked as a Medical Technologist and laboratory supervisor for hospitals and clinics in Long Branch, New Jersey; Littleton, Colorado; Atlanta, Georgia; and Rancho Santa Fe, California. She also served as organist at Christ Clarion Presbyterian Church in Pittsford, New York and Columbine United Parish in Littleton, Colorado.
After her husband’s passing in 2004, Mary became a Small Group Leader with the Bible Study Fellowship organization for several years, and attended and sang in the choir at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Escondido, CA. An avid animal lover, she took loving care of eleven dogs during her lifetime, as well as an assortment of guinea pigs, parakeets, ducks, hamsters and turtles.
Mary is survived by a sister, Barbara Jean Goehring (84) of Aberdeen, SD; sons Michael (69) of Fargo, ND and Marshall (67) of Lawrenceville, GA; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals would be appreciated.
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