Margie Joyce Petersen was born on a summer day, August 29th, 1925, to Lawrence & Inez Stroot of Wabasha, MN. Margie was the 3rd oldest of 12 children. Some of the earliest memories mom shared with us were about the summers she spent at her grandparent's farm, the Beacon Hill Farm on the Twin Bluffs of the Mississippi River, near Wabasha. Margie attended St. Felix Catholic School in Wabasha. After graduating, she moved to Minneapolis, where she joined the war effort and became a "Rosie the Riveter" constructing aircraft and periscope lenses for submarines. In 1945, she moved back home, where she was encouraged to answer a job ad for a local hardware store. She met a young man named Merritt C. Petersen who was the store manager. After the interview she walked out and said to herself, "I am not going to fall in love with that man!" On February 2nd, 1946, Margie Stroot married Merritt C. Petersen in Minneapolis. They began their life together in Windom. If 11 children were not enough, Margie was active in several areas of the community. Girl Scouts, Peace Pipe Council, Eagles Club Auxiliary President, Windom Country Club – Charter Member, WCC Women's Auxiliary, ALC WELCA, and Women's Bowling League, to name a few. In 1968, Margie went to work in the food service department for the Windom Public Schools. Mom always shared stories of her adventures working with the students and faculty. She retired as the Head Cook of Winfair Elementary School. After retiring, Margie and Merritt had time to enjoy travel and spending time with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Margie is survived by Merritt (Delores) Petersen, Wabasha, MN, Marjorie (Edwin) Thieman, Kilgore, TX, Linda (William) Toews, Wabasha, MN, Jodell Crowell, Windom, Peggy (Michael) Wiens, Windom, Becky (Mitchell) McKinney, Sun City, AZ, Sandra (Kenneth) Peterson, Dinwiddie, VA, Dawn (Robert) Aamot, Windom, Lisa (Denise Houston) Petersen, Windom and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is also survived by 3 siblings Eugene Stroot, Wabasha, Robert Stroot, Apple Valley, MN, 1 sister Patricia (Raymond) King, Eau Claire, WI and 1 Sister-In-Law, Carol Rodakowski, Bloomington, MN, along with several nieces and nephews. Margie was welcomed home on Friday, March 9th, 2018, by her loving husband of 58 years, Merritt C. Petersen and sons Ralph and Bruce Petersen, a grandchild, Chad Petersen and great grandchildren, Angela Johnson and Aiden Millis, sons-in-law, John Crowell and James Palkovich. Others include her parents, Lawrence & Inez Stroot, 4 brothers, 4 sisters and several other family members. Blessed Be the Memory of Margie J. Petersen!!