Gertrude Peterson

Gertrude Genevieve (O’Loughlin) Peterson, age 100, Cut Bank, died peacefully in her sleep, Thursday, February 22, 2018, just five days short of her 101st birthday.

Vigil services will be Friday, March 9, at 7:00 pm at St. Margaret Catholic Church. Funeral mass will be Saturday, March 10, at 10:00 AM at the church. Visitation will be one hour prior to mass at church.

She was born the daughter of Thomas Joseph O’Loughlin II and Annie M. McKenty on February 27, 1917 on the O’Loughlin ranch at West Butte, Toole County, Montana.  She was united in marriage to Raymond Peterson on November 29, 1941.  Gertrude was a long-time member of St. Margaret’s Parish in Cut Bank. She would take the Rosary with her every night she went to bed.

Upon the death of Ray’s father, CW, in 1937, Ray started farming north of Cut Bank.  Gertrude loved to accompany Ray to the family cabin near Glacier Park, but she received the most pleasure playing pan, dancing, and working in her garden.  She is quoted as saying: “When I get to heaven, I want a dance floor and a flower garden.”  She was well known for her quiet sense of humor and faint chuckle.

She made many friends in the Glacier Care Center where she resided since 2011. She did not complain much but did mention a few times how hard it was to out-live so many of her old friends from years past.

Although they did not have any children of their own, Ray and Gertrude helped their nieces and nephews any time there was a need.  They became like parents to so many of them, especially their niece, Estelle Birza.  There were countless others that were in receipt of their aid, many times a friend or the friend’s child. The Petersons funded scholarships for many high school students over the years, a practice Gertrude maintained after Ray’s passing in 1997.

She is survived by her sister, Anne Anderson of Power. Gertrude was also survived by her daughter, Estelle and Estelle’s children and grandchildren: Tom Kennedy; Diana (John) Vickers-Katie, Sarah, and Matt; Scott (Leslie) Kennedy-Michael and Megan; Jeannette (Tom) Kiranne-Andrew, Rachel and Brian.  She also leaves behind several much-loved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond; her parents, Tom and Annie; her brother, Howard; her sisters, Margaret (Hietpas), Susan (Boyle) and Jean (Jones).

Memorial can be made to St. Margaret Catholic Church or Northern Rockies Medical Center.