Esther Lovetta Peterson

Esther Lovetta Hines Peterson was born 12/3/1925 along with her twin sister, Margaret Loretta Hines Fellows, to Grace Loretta Herbert Hines (d) and Chester LeRoy Hines (d) in Yakima, WA and passed away 11/28/2015 of natural causes. She was five days short of her 90th birthday.

Esther and Margaret graduated in 1944 from Yakima High School. They were considered beauties, although both were skinny. They were the only students who had a car, Model A, and were, therefore, referred to as “the Gold Dust Twins”. Esther was known as “Klondike” as a young adult because of her blonde hair.

Esther worked at Burrows Motor Co during High School and after graduation. After marrying, she moved to Richland and worked for the US Area of Engineers and was proud of her contribution to the Manhattan Project and the War Effort. She worked for Shelton Realty, for KLOQ radio station as Traffic Manager, for the Yakima County Clerks offfice as Court Clerk, then for Central WA University in the Faculty Senate until retirement in 1986.

Esther attended Yakima Business School, learning skills that she used throughout her working career.

Esther married Jack Wayenberg (d) in 1945 and had two daughters, Janet Marie Wayenberg Mowrey and Jean Kay Wayenberg Sullivan.

Esther was also Married to David Johnston, and Tom Peterson (d). She spent 23 years with Warren O Kidder (d), and five years with John L Butterfield (d).

Esther enjoyed casino gambling, especially Twenty-One, and was a passionate mushroom hunter with Warren. She enjoyed cruises, and traveled to Europe, Russia, China, Japan, Mexico, and Canada. She was active in the Rebeccas Drill Team, Moose, Elks, Eagles, and American Legion as well as Jazzercize and Line Dancing. She was affiliated with the Episcopal Church. Appearance and personal grooming were highly important to Esther and she “fixed up” until her final weeks. Her joys were her Lhasa Apso dog Dolli and her Domestic Longhair cat Muffin.

Esther’s best friend has always been her twin sister Margaret. They enjoyed travel together and taking their kids to the beaches in San Diego and to Disneyland where they rode “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride” over and over because it only required an “A” ticket.

A Celebration of Life is being planned for April and will be posted in the newspapers.

Thank you to Esther’s Friends, Neighbors, Caregivers, Hospice Workers, Nurses, Doctors, Therapists, Aids, Hospitals, and Nursing Homes that participated so lovingly in Esther’s care.

Thank you, Mom, for raising two daughters with love and high moral standards despite all the difficulties!