Doris R Peterson

Doris R. Peterson, 92, passed away on May 31, 2026, at Serenity Pointe Assisted Living in Pearland, Texas.

She was born on April 23, 1934, in Bible Grove, Illinois, the second of three children to the Rev. Alfred Yungschlager and Ruth Yungschlager. The family relocated to Iowa, where she graduated from high school in Atlantic, Iowa. She attended college in Missouri for a couple of years, then transferred to Morningside College in Sioux City, where she graduated with a degree in English and math, prepared to teach. Meanwhile, her family relocated to Calumet, Iowa. This is where she met her future husband at the area roller skating rink (at least that’s the story we were always told).

On August 31, 1956, Doris married Ernest “Corky” Peterson. Together, they built a successful farming enterprise near Rembrandt, Iowa, and raised four children: Claire, Timothy, Scott, and Lisa.

Throughout her life, Doris was devoted to her roles as a farm wife and mother. Between shuttling her children to all their various school and sports activities she found time to be an active member of the United Church of Christ in Sioux Rapids. She was active in the local chapter of the Association for Retarded Children, now known as The Arc, and was a dedicated advocate for her son Scott during his school years and young adulthood. Her advocacy continues to benefit him today. Being a grandmother was one of her great joys. Tim worked on the farm and often brought Jen and Brad to her on weekends and during the summer. They have many fond memories of helping make meatloaf, Mac and cheese and doing crafts. She often took them swimming at Gabrielson Park. She also became a little famous for her chocolate chip cookies which were often requested for various morning coffee groups and church gatherings.

Following the death of her husband, Doris moved to Texas to be closer to her daughters. She spent five years living in Austin near Claire and Bill before relocating with them to the Gulf Coast upon their retirement in 2019. She enjoyed many happy times there, including waterfront dining, golf cart rides, and occasional boat outings. Lisa was now close enough to easily join in family dinners and holidays.

In retirement, Doris enjoyed sewing, quilting, and painting. She especially loved shopping for clothes and jewelry and dressing up for lunch with “the girls”. Her nails were always polished. She also took great pleasure in caring for her birds and maintaining flowers and bird feeders, particularly for hummingbirds.

Doris is survived by her brother, Harry Yungschlager; brother-in-law Ralph (Dottie) Peterson; her children, Claire (Bill) Peterson Sloan, Timothy (Teresa) Peterson, Scott Peterson, and Lisa (Louis)Peterson-Garcia; her grandchildren, Jennifer (Jason) Knapton and Bradley (Kimberly) Peterson; and her great-grandchildren, Miriam and Aureylian Knapton, and Cedric and Hannah Peterson; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Corky; and her sister, Carolyn Steig.

A family memorial service will be held in Iowa this summer with interment at Lone Tree Cemetery in Sioux Rapids, Iowa.