Shirley’s Obituary Shirley Dee Peterson, 86, of Fort Benton was called home on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at Missouri River Medical Center, with family at her side. Services will be held at the First Christian Church in Fort Benton on Friday, February 22 at 2:00 pm. Please join the family for refreshments, snacks and stories after the service.
Shirley was born February 22nd, 1932 in Billings, MT. The youngest of four children to Raymond Flathers and Marie (Collins) Flathers. A 4th generation Fort Benton native.
Shirley’s great grandparents homesteaded between Loma and Fort Benton on the Marias River in the 1880’s. She was very proud of her family’s legacy in the local history. Shirley attended schools in Billings, Great Falls and then Fort Benton, where she graduated in 1950.
On September 26th, 1950 she married George Olson, who was working as a brick layer in Fort Benton. On January 9, 1953 Shirley gave birth to her first child, Kathy Marie. After 8 years of marriage, the couple divorced and Shirley and Kathy moved to Deer Lodge, MT for a fresh start.
Shirley was working at the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge when she met a smelter worker living in Anaconda. Arthur Peterson, a charming, handsome man, fresh out of the Army who looked her way and stole her heart. The two married on August 17, 1958 after a short courtship.
The couple moved to Dilworth, MN where Shirley gave birth to her second daughter, Debra Colleen on December 5, 1959. In 1963, the family returned to Shirley’s home town of Fort Benton where they purchased a home and established their roots. They bought a local Husky station where Shirley helped grow the business by keepin’ the books, pumpin’ the gas and changin’ the oil.
She was also involved in ‘Public Relations’ for the business, keeping the customers smiling with an off-colored joke and a cup of joe. In 1982 the couple tried their luck at a second business endeavor and purchased the Chouteau House Bar. Although she continued her ‘Public Relations’ position, at this location her main duty was to keep the drinks cold, while Art’s job was to keep the stools warm!
They ran the bar alongside their daughters for 10 years and then closed the doors on that adventure in 1992. Another new experience that delighted Shirley in 1982 was when Kathy gave birth to her first grandchild, Callie Leigh. Shirley took to Grandmotherhood like a walleye to water.
Which makes it no surprise that her joy was truly doubled on July 6, 1994 when Pade gave birth to Shirley’s second granddaughter, Kaelee Raelle. Shirley had no greater pleasure than spending time with her granddaughters. As long as one of them was around, she always had a partner in crime.
It seems Grandma’s job was never done. Once her own girls were grown, she had a whole new batch of silly girls and their friends hangin’ around. And she loved every minute.
Art and Shirley always found time to do the things they enjoyed. They spent most of their summer weekends at Tiber Lake, boating, fishing, camping and playing any game they could get their hands on. They also enjoyed RV’ing at many other lakes and locations around Montana.
As long as they could find a friend, a fish, or a deck of cards, they enjoyed themselves! ! Shirley was not only a happy camper, she also enjoyed bowling, darts, BINGO, her magnet collection, scary movies, game night, pinochle, cribbage, spite and malice and any other card or board game she was challenged to….
and she usually won. On her milder side she also enjoyed singing, crossword puzzles, Jigsaw puzzles, Sunday drives, and a trip to the tasty freeze. On September 26, 2009, after 51 years of marriage, Shirley lost her life-long partner and had to learn a new way of life.
After several years of living alone with the support of her family and friends, she suffered a fall that she never fully recovered from. She moved into Missouri River Medical Center in 2017 where she felt peace in knowing there was always someone there to talk to or give her a helping hand. She participated in the activities programs, including calling BINGO and enjoyed helping with clean up after meal times.
On March 6th, 2018 Shirley received her final gift of love with the birth of her great grandson, Leo James Arthur Andrews. Although their time together was short, it was truly precious to see. As her face would light up and she would be overwhelmed with pure love to the point of tears every time she saw him.
Just short of Shirley’s 87th birthday an illness took her strength and hope and when she couldn’t fight any longer she passed on to a better place where she would no longer suffer and could rest in peace. Shirley had many struggles and heartbreaking times throughout her days. In spite of these difficult and challenging life experiences, she stood strong in the woman she was and never lost her spirit.
She always persevered with resilience, kindness and an unforgettable sense of humor. Although she may have been seen by many as unrefined, inappropriate or even uncouth, she will be remembered by us as empathetic, kind, warm, generous, and genuine, with a deep love and care for her family, friends, and neighbors. We will never forget your unconditional love, spirit, wackiness, mismatched crocs n socks, zest for life and your desire to put a smile on someone’s face.
Shirley is preceded in death by her loving husband Arthur ‘Pete’ Peterson; her mother and father; siblings, Sonny Flathers, Leonard Flathers, and Helen Drewiske. Shirley is survived by her loving daughters, Kathy Marie Olson and Debbie ‘Pade’ Peterson; granddaughters, Callie Leigh Olson (Derek Shane Andrews) and Kaelee Raelle Ferris; great grandson, Leo James Arthur Andrews; nephew, Butch Moorehead; favorite son, Cal Lundy; Kailee Ann Davidson & her daughter Grier; nieces, nephews and extended family. A very special thank you to all of Shirley’s friends at Missouri River Medical Center, who gave her purpose and peace in her final years.
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