Martha L. Peterson, 87, of Nashua died Sunday morning, Nov. 23, 2008 at Mercy Medical Center - New Hampton.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008 at Nashua United Methodist Church in Nashua with Pastor Lundula officiating. Nelda Shepard will be the organist and lead the congregation in the singing of “How Great Thou Art”. Janice Edson will sing “Somewhere My Love” and “I’ll Walk With You” and “Good Night and Good Morning”. 

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Friday at the Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home in Nashua (641) 435-4134 and then one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. Memorials may be directed to the family. On-line condolences may be left for Martha at www.hugebackfuneralhome.com.

Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Nashua.

Martha Louise Peterson was born March 20, 1921 on the family farm near New Hampton, the daughter of George F. and Gladys (Leachman) Johnson. She was raised in the rural New Hampton area and graduated from New Hampton High School in 1939 and attended Iowa State Teachers College. Martha taught in rural school for five years. She was united in marriage to Roger H. Peterson on July 11, 1943 in Bremerton, Wash. To this union a son, Roger Dean and a daughter, Mary Kay were born. They farmed in the “Republic area” for 25 years and Martha was a 4-H leader for 15 years and also served as Justice of the Peace for 7 years before moving to Allison in 1970. Martha wrote a weekly column for the Allison Tribune for 20 years. Following Roger’s retirement, they moved to their lake home in Nashua. Martha wrote a weekly column “Reflections” for the Nashua Reporter. She would make us think back to when times were somewhat less complicated. Roger passed away June 17, 1996. Martha continued to live in her home until moving to Cedar Vale Assisted Living in Nashua this year. Martha was a member of Nashua United Methodist Church, Republican Women, Garden Club and organized the Firefly Club in Allison. She enjoyed the lake, her flowers, quilting and traveling and especially loved her family.

Martha is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Eileen Peterson of Summerfield, Fla.; her daughter and son-in-law, Mary Kay and Mel Holtz of Billings, Mont.; two grandsons, Steven Holtz and Mel (Tracey) Holtz, Jr ; a great-grandson Caleb Holtz; two brothers, Lloyd Johnson of Nathrop, Colo. and Gerald Johnson of New Hampton; also her foreign exchange daughter, Birgitta Ohlsson of Sweden.

She was preceded in death by her husband Roger; her parents; a sister, Mary Ann Muench; a brother-in-law, Robert Muench and two sisters-in-law, Virginia Johnson and Marilyn Johnson.