Emma L. Warneke Peterson

Emma Lou departed from her earthly body on December 28, 2024. She had lived almost 100 years. She lived her life to the fullest and gave far more than she received from everyone who had the privilege to be part of her life. Her death is not only about her but represents the passing of a generation in the Warneke/Miller family. She was the last living child of the 12 children born to Fred and Mary Warneke. Before their marriage, both Fred and Mary had spouses who died. Each brought their children to the new family.

Emma was born to German immigrant parents in Bridger, MT on May 15, 1925. She grew up learning how to survive in a large family during the Great Depression on struggling farms at Bridger, Bercail, Hedgesville, and Christina, MT. She graduated Winifred High School in 1943 and immediately entered the 3-year nursing training program at St. Joseph's Hospital in Lewistown and the Cadet Nursing Corp at Fort Lewis, WA. She married Joseph Bell Peterson at Zion Lutheran Church in Lewistown in 1946, following the completion of her service and training. By 1950, their 2 sons, Michael and Kirby, were born.

 Following her "stay at home Mom" period, Emma worked in private duty, in a hospital, and as an office nurse. She then spent the next 20 years as a Public Health and Women's Health Nurse for Fergus County. She completed several years of continuing nursing education at Montana State University, University of Montana, and a 3-month education program in 1975 at Harbor General Hospital, Torrance, CA in Women's Health Care. She was active in the Council on Aging, Mental Health Association, and Montana Cancer Society, and was past president of the Montana Nurses Association. In 1974, she received the Lewistown Chamber of Commerce Business Award.

As a family, Emma and Joe enjoyed camping and fishing, spending time with friends at Swan Lake during the summer, and skiing and snowmobiling in winter. After retirement, they spent the winter months in Mesa, AZ square dancing, clogging, and meeting new friends. In 1995, they returned to spend full-time in Montana. Joe passed away in January 2011. 

Emma was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church all her time in Lewistown. She sang in the choir and was involved with Lutheran World Relief projects. In 2017, she moved to Billings to live at Mission Ridge on the St. John's United campus and joined the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Billings.

She is survived by her two sons and their families. Kirby Dale Peterson and his wife Sherry, are in Billings. Kirby has two children, Connie Leamont, married to Brandon, of Chaska, MN, and Dale Peterson, formerly of Honolulu, HI. Michael Joseph Peterson and his wife, Pamela, are in Santa Cruz, CA. They have one daughter, Heather Valentine, married to Damion, in San Jose, CA. There are two great-grandchildren, Vincent Calton of Chaska, MN, and Amy Myers of Billings. MT. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews from the Warneke/Miller and Peterson families.

Emma was predeceased by her husband, Joseph, and by her grandson, Dale Peterson, and by her eleven siblings-Helena Becot, Wilma Dollan, Lewis Miller, Elmer Warneke, Viola James, Elenor Kananen, Ervin Warneke, Fred Warneke, Marion Jarussi, Norman Warneke, and Robert Warneke. 

The family asks that any donations in Emma's memory go either to St. John's Hospice in Billings or the charity of your choice. She writes "loving the Lord, my church, my family, my friends, and all my church friends are my foundation and my zest for life and loving every minute of it. Thanks be to God". 

The family will be planning a memorial service for her at Zion Lutheran Church in Lewistown in the spring of 2025.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cloyd Funeral Home. Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.cloydfuneralhome.com