Karen B. Peterson

MOUNDVILLE TOWNSHIP – Karen B. Peterson, age 100, of Moundville Township, passed away on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at Lily Meadows in Westfield.

Karen was born on September 28, 1925, in the Town of Pleasant Springs, in Dane County, Wisconsin, the daughter of Martin and Johanna (Gyland) Rustad.  She graduated from the West Koshkonong one room school and then from Stoughton High School in 1944. She went on to attend Art School in Madison.  On April 26, 1947, she was married to Sheldon W. Peterson, of Endeavor, at the West Koshkonong Lutheran Church, near Stoughton.  They farmed on the Peterson family farm near Endeavor from 1947 until their retirement in 2003.  Karen continued to reside there until 2018, when she moved to assisted living at Remington House in Pardeeville, and later to Lily Meadows in Westfield.

Karen was a full-time homemaker and farm wife which she enjoyed, while helping with field work, gardening and milking cows, as she raised their family.  She was very proud of her family, and they always worked together to have great family reunions and get-togethers on all occasions.  Always busy, she loved cooking, canning, scrapbooking, sewing, carving, Rosemaling, and working in her flower gardens.  She was proud of her Norwegian heritage and her Lefse and Krumkaka were family favorites. 
She was a long-standing member of the Moundville Methodist Church.

Karen dearly loved her children and their families.  She is survived by her five children:
Dennis (Suellen) Peterson, Endeavor, Dean (Jennifer) Peterson, Endeavor, Susan (Rick) Sewell, Sun Prairie, Karel Peterson, Columbus, and Joanne (Cal) Dalton, Endeavor.

Grandchildren:  Jacob Peterson, Shawn DiBell, Kenneth Peterson, Gus (Chelci) Peterson, John Peterson, Lindsay (Ryan Schinke) Sewell, Nathan (Tracy) Sewell, Jessica Schulz, Ashley Schulz, and Jayne (Tommy Jr) Nakielski.

Great Grandchildren:  Natalie DiBell, Allen DiBell, Olivia, Spenser, and Aidyn Peterson, Ethan and Eric Stone, Rory Sewell, Kadyn Morgan, and Tommy and Calvin Nakielski.

Great Great Granddaughter Alyvia.  Honorary granddaughter, Paula Radke
Nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Sheldon, in 2005, a sister, Thelma (Stanley) Dahl, brothers, Marvin (Lois) Rustad, Olaf Rustad and Peder Rustad, and a grandson, Dustin Peterson.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at Moundville Methodist Church, with the Rev. Jim Cotter officiating.  Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage, and from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Thursday at the church.

Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage is assisting the family.