Leona Peters

Leona Peters, age 64, of Henderson, died Wednesday, January 24, 2001, at Bryan Hospital in Lincoln.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, at Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson. Rev. Weldon Martens will officiate. Interment will be in Bethesda Cemetery near Henderson. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 P.M., Friday at Higby Mortuary in Aurora and one hour prior to service at the Church. Memorials may be made to support the continuation of the annual Christian Music Festival in Henderson.

OBITUARY: LEONA PETERS

Leona M. Peters, the daughter of Benjamin A. and Marie (Kliewer) Ratzlaff, was born in Henderson, Nebraska on November 10, 1936 and died in Lincoln, Nebraska on January 24, 2001, at the age of 64 years, 2 months and 14 days.

She grew up in Henderson. Leona attended elementary school in Polk for two years and then graduated from Henderson High School in 1954.

Leona was united in marriage to Hilmer Peters on July 22, 1955 in Henderson, Nebraska in the Bethesda Mennonite Church. They lived on a farm near Aurora for 18 years before moving to Henderson. They were married for 41 years before Hilmer passed away in May 1996.

She was a member of the Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson. She and Hilmer were the passionate founders of the Christian Music Festival held annually in Henderson, which will continue in their memory.

Leona was preceded in death by her parents, husband and a grandson, Lynden Regier, brother, Willard "Bill" Ratzlaff and sister-in-law, Marilyn Misner Ratzlaff.

She is survived by her four children, Lorie Peters Regier and her husband Ron of Madrid, Sherri Peters Prieb and her husband Ben of Boulder, Colorado, Todd Peters and his wife Susan of Lincoln and Jodi Peters Fuehrer and husband Cory of Sutton; 11 grandchildren, Adrian, Rachel, Chantel, Melissa and Natalie Regier of Madrid, Walker Prieb of Boulder, Colorado, Brandie, Brandon and Krystal Peters of Lincoln and Madison and Sydney Fuehrer of Sutton; sister-in-law, Mary Montoya Ratzlaff of Aurora, brother, Elmer "Bernie" Ratzlaff and his wife Ruth of Montrose, Colorado and sister, Lenora Ratzlaff Goertzen and her husband Clyde of Bradshaw.