Betty Illene Peterson, age 79, of North Platte, NE, died Friday, September 16, 2016, at Great Plains Health in North Platte.
Betty was born August 6, 1937, to Ivan and Flora Bockus Price at Kearney, NE. She grew up in North Platte, graduating with the North Platte High School Class of 1955.
Betty married Larry Glenn Milleson in 1955 and they had a son, David. Since Larry was stationed in France with the U.S. Army, Betty and David joined him there and their daughter, Debra, was born. In 1959 the family moved to El Paso, TX and the couple later divorced.
On September 15, 1961, Betty was united in marriage to Charles Lawrence Peterson in El Paso. Since Charles was serving in the U.S. Air Force, they lived in El Paso for a time before relocating to Puerto Rico in 1963, Minot, ND in 1965, then Rialto, CA in 1967. By 2005 they had moved to Las Cruces, NM. When Charles died in 2013, Betty returned to North Platte to be closer to her family.
While in California, Betty owned and operated a roller skating rink and owned race horses. She also worked as a nurse’s aide and a teacher’s aide. She attended the Catholic Church and was a member of the V.F.W. and American Legion Auxiliary in California and New Mexico and had served as Past President of the V.F.W. Auxiliary. Betty enjoyed traveling, bowling and spending time with her family.
She is survived by her children, David (Suzanne) Milleson and Debra (Vince) Vasquez, of North Platte, Jo Ann Fay, of Beaumont, CA, Charles Peterson, of Hesperia, CA, and Carla Bower and Robert (Melloney) Peterson, of Phelan, CA; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Sharon (David), of Denver, CO, and Rose (Ed), of Sibley, MO; as well as many nieces, nephews and other family.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Charles; son, Joseph Peterson; grandson, Steven; a sister, Maryann Miller; and her parents, Ivan and Flora Price.
Cremation was chosen. Betty will be buried with her husband at Fort Bliss National Cemetery in Fort Bliss, TX at a later date. Condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.