07/11/2003

Eunice Adeline Peterson Westby, 78, died Sunday, June 29, 2003, at Knute Nelson Memorial Home in Alexandria, Minnesota. She had been a resident there since January 1, 2000.

Eunice was born on September 2, 1924, in rural Sisseton, South Dakota. She was the daughter of Anton and Elsie Peterson.

She attended grade school in Sisseton and graduated from Sisseton High School in 1942. She attended Northern State College in Aberdeen, South Dakota from 1942-43.

Eunice taught elementary school at Hammer, South Dakota from 1943-1944. She also worked for the Social Security office in Seattle, Washington from 1945-46.

She was united in marriage with Philip Westby on August 11, 1946 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sisseton. To this union four children were born.

She worked as a church secretary at East Side Lutheran, Sioux Falls, South Dakota from 1946-47 while her husband attended Augustana College. During 1946-50 she worked in the treasurers office of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Minneapolis while her husband attended Luther Theological Seminary.

After her husband was ordained she chose to be a homemaker. They served at St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Spencer, South Dakota and Christ Lutheran Church, Salem, South Dakota from 1950-54. From 1954-59 they lived in Arlington, South Dakota and served Trinity Lutheran Church. From 1960 to 1983 they lived in Alexandria where they served at First Lutheran Church. They served at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls as interim in 1984. They moved to Fergus Falls in September of 1984. Eunice was a member of First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls.

Eunice was preceded in death by her parents; husband: Philip (1998); granddaughter: Linsey Westorff; brothers: Donald and Gordon; and sister: Marlys Peterson.

She is survived by daughter: Karen Westorff her husband Gary and daughter Sydne of Duluth; sons: Mark Westby his wife Carole and their children Kjersten (Bryan), Megan and Erika of rural Brandon; Peter Westby of Bloomington; Joel Westby, his wife Diane and their children Micah, Maren, Leah and Philip of Lakota, ND; sister: Dorothy (Jacque) Schmiedt of Wheatland, WY; and brother: Denton Peterson of Eugene, OR.

A funeral service was held on Monday, July 7, 2003, at Grace Lutheran Church in Brandon with Reverend Jim Tonneson officiating. Music was provided by Bruce Aga as soloist and Annette Helder as organist. Interment followed in the Carlos Prairie Cemetery at Carlos. Pallbearers were Mark Westby, Peter Westby, Joel Westby, Karen Westorff and Gary Westorff.

Memorials are preferred to the National Parkinson Foundation Development Dept., 1501 NW 9th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136-1494 or www.parkinson.org

Blessed be the memory of Eunice Westby.