11 Dec Charlene Peterson

Charlene Peterson, Bismarck, (Mrs. Charles L) died December 10, 2020   at Missouri Slope Care Center.

A Mass of Christian burial service will be held at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 10 AM. Visitation will take place on Tuesday, December 15 at the Bismarck Funeral Home from 5:00-7:00 PM, with a Rosary at 7:00 PM.   Visitors are asked to wear masks and observe social distancing    Burial will take place at St Mary’s Cemetery.  A Livestream of the service will be available on the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit website and you may click here to watch it.

Charlene Vares was born in Deadwood, South Dakota to Matthew and Loolu Vares on November 9, 1936.  She graduated from South Dakota State University, Brookings with a BS degree, and from University of Denver with a Master of Arts Degree.  She was a bookmobile librarian and then a Regional Librarian for the South Dakota State Library.

She married Charles L Peterson of Aberdeen, South Dakota in 1959.  They moved to Bismarck-Mandan May 1, 1960 when her husband opened an Allied Van Lines agency.  The family has been a member of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit since 1961.

She was employed by Mary College (University of Mary) as the first librarian.  Charlene was later employed at the United Tribes Technical College for 15 years.

Charlene had a way with animals.  They trusted her; horses, donkeys and fawns that came back as antlered bucks for a rub on the neck and a handful of oats.  She loved her farm home and the out of doors and spent as much time as possible in the garden and caring for animals.

Charlene was preceded in death by her father and mother, Mathew and Loolu  Vares.  Survivors include her husband, Charles; two daughters, Christine (Keith) Jones, Boise, Idaho, and Sandra (Wally) Keller; and three grandsons, Jacob (Cassandra) Keller, Tucson, Arizona, Mathew  of Grand Forks  and Lucas Keller, of UND, Grand Forks.

Memorials may be left to the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, 7520 University Drive, Bismarck.