Shirley Ann Peterson

Shirley Ann Peterson, 75, of Superior passed away quietly Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013.

She was born at home in Superior's East End on Feb. 10, 1937, one of seven children born to Hoken and Myrtle Erickson.

On Sept. 23, 1958 she married Ronald Peterson, and they celebrated 51 years of marriage until his passing Jan. 13, 2010.

Together in 1972 they opened the first Aqua Hut tropical fish store in their basement. Over the next 41 years the Aqua Hut expanded and flourished at 4 other locations, until Shirley's retirement in December of 2012.

Shirley enjoyed the many customers she got to know over the years and cherished the relationships she developed with them. She was always warm hearted, kind and generous with everyone in her life. She started her life with very little, worked hard and never forgot what it was like to be poor. She always shared whatever she had with everyone she encountered, and taught her children to do the same. Her greatest joys were her children and grandchildren. Every conversation ended with I love you, give my babies kisses. She thoroughly loved her family, friends and extended family, and she loved to fuss over them.

Those who gratefully shared her life were her three children, Janet (Jann) Newman and her husband Paul, Ronald Jr. and his wife Krissy, Bradley and his girlfriend Danna Peterson; grandchildren Bonnie and Jeffrey Newman, Justine, Megan, Jason, Bradley Jr., Emily, and Nathan Peterson and Calli Stage; brother Russell (Phyllis) Erickson; sister Linda (Ralph) Coon; sisters-in-law Ada Erickson, Ruth (Jack) Gallagher, Rose Foote, Rosanne (Richard) Lally, Robin Cather, Nancy Peterson, Wanda Peterson, Judy Peterson; brothers-in-law Dan Eckberg and Joe Eugenius. She is also survived by her friends Sharon Millard, Mary Renquist, June Roeben, Kathie Otterino, Betty Allen and many nieces, nephews and extended family all of whom she dearly loved.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Ron; sisters Marie (Rupert) Anderson, Ethel (Art) Midbon, Lois Cole and brother Harvey Erickson; sisters-in-law Royleen Eugenius and Renee (Patty) Eckberg; brothers-in-law Richard, Rodney and Roy Peterson.

Visitation will be 1 p.m. until the 2:30 p.m. memorial service on Sunday, Feb. 10 at Bethal Lutheran Church, 5821 John Avenue, Superior.

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