Netha Agnete Jensen Peterson

Netha Peterson was born Agnetha Jensen in Videbaek, Denmark on April 20,1922. She was the third youngest of twelve children. Her father died when she was only four years old, leaving her mother to care for all the children. This occurred during the Great Depression.

At a young age she was required to help the family financially by working for room and board with local farmers and as a nanny for some of the more prosperous families. Even though her family was very poor, they shared a deep love and commitment to one another. Near the time Germany occupied Denmark in World War II, she began nursing training. She loved helping other people and felt she had found her calling. Unfortunately, she contracted tuberculosis from some of the patients she had been caring for. This led to several prolonged stays in a tuberculosis sanitarium in Denmark.

At the end of the war, she and her country were exhausted. She went home to assist her mother and sisters. Her oldest brother and several of her uncles had emigrated from Denmark before the war began. They encouraged her to come visit them in the United States. She agreed and sailed aboard a ship to New York City. Her family met her there and took her by train back to Nebraska. After spending six months with them, she was required to return to Denmark. With the backing of her uncles and brother she was able to apply for immigration to the United States. She then returned to the United States, took office management training, and soon had a job working for the local hospital in North Platte, NE. It was during this time she met Jim Peterson, a local pharmacist.

She and Jim quickly fell in love and married. They had three children together: Mark, David, and Anna. She also became step-mother to Jim’s daughter, Christine. Netha devoted herself completely to her family. She also formed a strong bond with the congregation in the Lutheran Church. She served on many of the church related organizations. She became a Cub Scout leader for the boys and assisted with the Campfire Girls with Anna.

In 1973, she, Jim, and the family moved to Fort Collins, CO. She joined the Trinity Lutheran Church and became an active member. She volunteered with Foothills Gateway, helping the handicapped and was a member of PEO. Netha had a creative ability and loved to create art with fabric and thread. She also enjoyed gardening and travel. She returned to her native home in Denmark many times to be with her Danish family. She also enjoyed entertaining large numbers of visiting friends and family. As her children became adults and began having their own children, she thoroughly enjoyed the role of grandmother and ultimately great-grandmother. Despite the challenges of her youth, she always had a positive attitude. Her faith in God gave her strength and filled her with love.

Netha lived to the age of 100 years and 7 months. Her mind and love of others stayed with her until God called for her. She died peacefully on December 9, 2022.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Jim; ten of her eleven siblings; and grandson, Nick. Her one remaining sister, Gudrun, still lives in Denmark. She is survived by her sons: Mark (Susan), David (Jane), daughter Anna Chapman (Phil), and Christine (Angel); grandchildren: Lance, Jackie, Katie, Claire, Mike, Robert, Jennifer, Brian; and great-grandchildren: Logan, Hugo, Mia, Riley, Oliver, Madeleine, Stella, Albert, Ken and Alexa.

Netha spent the past few years of her life at New Mercer Commons Assisted Living in Fort Collins. We want to thank the staff and nurses who were so kind and helpful to her.

Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Netha's memory may be made to Pathways Hospice [https://pathways-care.org/ways-to-give/].