Lenore Peterson

Lenore Burris Peterson was born to Leo and Mary Burris in Oklahoma City on June 26, 1917. She was the oldest of three daughters. She departed this life at age 98 early Monday morning, January 18, 2016 at Hilltop Lodge, Beloit, KS. She grew up in the oil fields of Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. After graduating from WaKeeney High School she then attended and graduated from Fort Hays College where she was a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority. After graduation she held several different bookkeeping positions in Kansas City.
Lenore was united in marriage May 2, 1943 to Roy L. Peterson. They lived on a farm near Tonganoxie, Ks while raising six children. In addition to working on the farm Lenore worked in Lawrence starting in 1960. She became facility supervisor for USS Agri-Chemicals in 1972. According to a trade magazine she was the first woman facility supervisor in the country. After her husband's death in 1978 Lenore continued to work until 1981. She retired and moved to Beloit that year where she became involved in community activities including joining the First Christian Church. She ran for and was on the Beloit City Council for twelve years. During this same time she delivered meals on wheels, and served on the Beloit Senior Center Board.
While carrying on her civic duties she also was a prolific reader, card player and became excellent at needlepoint. She bowled until she was 90 when she decided her bowling wasn't improving and gave it up.
Lenore was preceded in death by her husband Roy, her son Keith and younger sisters Ruth Burris and Dorothy Schemm.
She is survived by five children: Lucia (Larry) Doud of Minneapolis, Ruth (Bob) Von Stein of Overbrook, Charles (Marilyn Heiman) Peterson of Beloit, William (Deborah Tesh) Peterson of Newton and Kay (Lloyd) Peterson (Kevin Rinn) of Omaha, Nebraska, eleven grandchildren, four great grandchildren, three step great grandchildren, four step great great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 9:30 AM, Friday, January 22, 2016 at the First Christian Church in Beloit. Visitation will be held from 6pm-8pm Thursday, January 21, at McDonald Funeral Home, Beloit. The casket will remain closed. Burial will follow at Hubbel Hill Cemetery in Tonganoxie, KS at 3:30 PM. Memorials may be made to the Beloit Senior Center or Solomon Valley Hospice.