Helen Peterson

Funeral Mass for Helen C. Peterson, 85, of Dickinson will be 9:30 a.m., Friday, September 21, 2012 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Dickinson, with Father Todd Kreitinger celebrating. Burial will be 3:00 p.m. CDT, Friday, September 21, 2012 at North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.


Visitation for Helen will be from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Thursday, September 20, 2012 at Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson. Visitation will continue from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with a prayer service being held at 7:00 p.m.


Helen passed away Sunday, September 16, 2012 at Sanford Health Center in Bismarck, ND.


Helen (Burghart) Peterson was born December 15, 1926 in Mott, North Dakota, the daughter of Jacob J. and Julianne (Metz) Burghart. Helen attended grade school in rural Mott and graduated from Mott Lincoln High School in 1944. She then went on to further her education at Dickinson State College and Minot State College, initially receiving a one year Certificate followed by a Standard in 1953 and finally after attending only summer sessions, a BS in education in 1972. Helen taught for 42 years in Regent and in rural schools in the area, including teaching second generation children in many cases. She was truly a teacher at heart, always encouraging us to “enunciate more clearly”. Helen married Charles J. (Pete) Peterson on May 12, 1953. They lived in Regent for a many years before moving to Park Ave Villa in Dickinson where she resided for the last 10 years. While in Dickinson Helen continued to share her love of teaching by volunteering at Trinity West grade school. She also volunteered her time at the Dickinson Museum and St Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary for many years. She loved reading and also enjoyed working on her “wordfind” books for hours at a time. She also produced many beautiful embroidery pieces including quilts, tablecloths and dishtowels.


Helen will be dearly remembered and deeply missed by her family including her daughter and son-in-law, JuLann and Scott Wiseman of Bismarck, her son and daughter-in-law, Charles “Chuck” and Sandee Peterson of Dickinson, and her six beloved grandchildren, also know as her “kidlets”: Kellen (RJ) Pathroff, Philip, Andrew and Claire Wiseman, and Reed and Anna Peterson. Her grandchildren were truly the lights of her life. She also leaves behind a very special friend, Monica Peterson.


Helen is preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Julianne, her husband, Charles (2007), three sisters, Freda Dobitz, Agnes Burghart, and a stillborn sister, and one brother, Anton (Tony) Burghart.


Click to View Program (PDF)


Burial Date: September 21, 2012
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Mass: Friday: St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Dickinson, ND