Julie Peterson

Julie Marie Peterson, known by many who loved her as “Moo Moo”, passed away December 29, 2023.

Julie was Born June 9, 1952, at Swedish Children’s Hospital in Seattle Washington. She grew up in Everett, Washington and loved countless camping, hunting and fishing adventures as a young girl.  She always found it ironic that she wound up being a Montana girl after growing up on Montana Road. She attended Cascade High School in Everett, Washington. 

Throughout her life, Julie loved all things, but most of all had an innate way of connecting with any person she came in contact with making them feel included and loved no matter their walk of life. Above all she loved being around children, which blazed her path to a career as a Bus Driver with Mukilteo School District.

 Julie was married at a very young age and in 1971, Julie welcomed her only daughter Tammy into the world. They were inseparable from that moment, just the two of them, best friends, carrying on the traditions of camping, hunting, fishing adventures, and summers in Montana at the I.J. Peterson Ranch. Julie made each and every holiday special for them, going over the top for Easter, Halloween, and Christmas, as you know if you have ever been part of one of these holidays with Julie, topped with her signature handmade holiday sweaters. She and Tammy had a standing date on Tuesday nights to shout “Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!” in que with their favorites, Laverne and Shirley. The indivisible pair became a package deal of 4 at the start of Tammy’s 7^th Grade year when Tammy became best friends with Kelly Judd (then Norton) and Julie found her soul sister in Kelly’s mom Karen Young and from that point they rarely were not in the company of one another.   

   Julie was brilliant and had a passion for learning and was the last person you wanted to play Jeopardy against! In 1979, she started her studies of Sign Language at Everett Community College, receiving a 4.0 in the program.   

She met her soulmate, John, in 1985. Julie radiated her spunk and zest for life that her and John channeled into their involvement with the Snohomish Schwarzmiller Sauerkraut Band, known for their kooky costuming and silliness that brought smiles to parade and event goers all through the greater Seattle corridor, strutting her stuff as a cheerleader of the band with her trusty sidekick Karen, sporting their signature color purple.

In 1985, Julie and John, accompanied by life long best friend of 50 years, Susan Hall, began coming back and forth to the central Montana Hiline to lend a hand in helping at I. J. Peterson Ranch in South Devon, assisting her Uncle Ingwald, as he aged, with his farming and cattle operation.

 One of her most cherished days was October 17, 1987, when she married John and had the honor of having both her father, Albert, and her uncle, Ingwald give her away at the altar.

In early summer 1989, Julie settled permanently in Shelby with John out at I.J. Peterson Ranch, taking pride in the part she played as a determined and hardworking cattlewoman and ranch wife. She would gush when reminiscing of night calving, bottle feeding, roundups, “cowgirling”, brandings, and cooking for the friends and neighbors that would join in to help. Julie and John were joined in Montana by Tammy and her husband Herb in 1994, when she became the infamous “Grandma Moo Moo”, spending countess hours with her grand girls making mud pies, musical “education” that ranged from How Much is That Doggy in the window to Chantilly Lace to Crazy on you and unforgettable memories while having them within a few short miles from the farm, was something she treasured.

Julie had a deep love for the local community and served it proudly throughout the years including service with the Toole County Library Board, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Good Neighbor Club, Galata School Board, Montana Archaeology Society, the local USDA office as a field surveyor, and so many more.

 Whether you knew her as Julie the: cupcake baker, recipe collector, gardener, amateur archaeologist, biggest member of the 12th man/ lover of the Seattle Seahawks, needle point sewer, bookworm, storyteller, the confidant, or any of the other hats she proudly wore, she would often share to anyone that would listen about “Julie the mother, grandmother, and great grandmother” the most coveted hat she held.

 She was passionate about the things she loved, and her love ran deep and wide but was most proud of her family and her legacy she leaves behind.

 Julie is survived by the loves of her life, husband John Shearer and their labrador, Spanky Doodle; her Daughter, Tammy Holten (Herb), son David Schroeder (Maria). Her memories will be forever cherished as Grandma Moo Moo by her six grandchildren: Ashley Lampert (Colton), Kourtney Holten (Adam), Ruby Schroeder, Daisy Schroeder, Rowan Schroeder, and Storm Schroeder; and especially by her three great grandchildren whom she was so proud to be present in their lives: Keaton, Klinton, and Kinsley Lampert. Julie also leaves behind her sister Maureen Dilley and brothers Donald and Brian Duncan, her brother Pete’s children Jason, Kelli, and Scott Peterson, her nephew whom she loved as a son, Daniel Shearer Jr., bonus granddaughter Carissa Buxel, and an immeasurable amount of family, friends, neighbors, community members, whom she ultimately made a part of her immediate family through way of showering inclusivity, kindness, and loyalty to all that had the honor of knowing her.

 She is preceded in death by her beloved parents Albert and Irene Peterson, her big brother, Albert “Pete” Peterson Jr., uncle I. J. Peterson, 

 Julie’s family invites you to join them in a Celebration of her life on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Devon Lutheran Church in Devon, MT, with a reception to follow at The Frontier Bar & Supper Club.

The family will plan a celebration of life in Washington. Dates to be determined at later date.