Leah M. Petersen was born on May 30, 1926, in Benton County, Iowa, the daughter of Gerald and Isabelle (Arthur) Barkdoll. She was raised near Garrison and graduated from Garrison High School. On June 24, 1944, Leah was united in marriage to Gene F. Petersen. The couple made their home in rural Benton County. Leah was a housewife and worked as a secretary for Farm Services. She was a member of the Garrison Methodist Church for many years and enjoyed going to the casino, spending time with her family, and baking chocolate cake for her brother. Leah died at the age of 91 on Friday, November 24, 2017, at the Keystone Nursing Care Center. A service will be held Friday, December 1, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at Dysart United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a daughter, Ronda Hopkins; a son, Charles Petersen; a grandson, Ricky Hopkins; a sister, Marilyn Buresh; and brothers, Art Huebner, and Karl, Jerry, Richard, Gale, and Robert “Bobby” Barkdoll. Leah is survived by a son, Doug (Ronda) Petersen of Garrison; a son in law, Dick Hopkins of Dysart; a daughter in law, Debbie Petersen of Dysart; four brothers, Donald (Maggie) Barkdoll of Phoenix, Phillip (Linda) Barkdoll of Vinton, Allan (Jan) Barkdoll of Omaha, and Gino (Leda) Barkdoll of Scottsdale; a sister in law, Mary Barkdoll; nine grandchildren; seventeen great grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren.

Leah M. Petersen, 91

Leah M. Petersen was born on May 30, 1926, in Benton County, Iowa, the daughter of Gerald and Isabelle (Arthur) Barkdoll. She was raised near Garrison and graduated from Garrison High School. On June 24, 1944, Leah was united in marriage to Gene F. Petersen. The couple made their home in rural Benton County. Leah was a housewife and worked as a secretary for Farm Services. She was a member of the Garrison Methodist Church for many years and enjoyed going to the casino, spending time with her family, and baking chocolate cake for her brother. Leah died at the age of 91 on Friday, November 24, 2017, at the Keystone Nursing Care Center. A service will be held Friday, December 1, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at Dysart United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a daughter, Ronda Hopkins; a son, Charles Petersen; a grandson, Ricky Hopkins; a sister, Marilyn Buresh; and brothers, Art Huebner, and Karl, Jerry, Richard, Gale, and Robert “Bobby” Barkdoll. Leah is survived by a son, Doug (Ronda) Petersen of Garrison; a son in law, Dick Hopkins of Dysart; a daughter in law, Debbie Petersen of Dysart; four brothers, Donald (Maggie) Barkdoll of Phoenix, Phillip (Linda) Barkdoll of Vinton, Allan (Jan) Barkdoll of Omaha, and Gino (Leda) Barkdoll of Scottsdale; a sister in law, Mary Barkdoll; nine grandchildren; seventeen great grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren.