Posted: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 4:00 pm
Oct. 9, 1918 - Nov. 7, 2008
Elizabeth Ammann Petersen Karas, 90, of Lebanon, died Nov. 7, 2008, in Lebanon.
Graveside services were held Nov. 14 at the Okanogan Valley Gardens in Omak, Wash.
She was born Oct. 9, 1918, in Pine Creek, Wash., to Fritz and Frieda Ammann. She attended the Pine Creek School until she was 13, then quit school to help take care of her family after her mother died.
She married Lawrence Petersen in 1935. She married Mike Karas in November 1965.
After her children left home, she became a nurses' aide/CNA and spent more than 40 years taking care of the elderly and special needs children in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Nevada. She was honored as Nevada's Nurses' Aide of the year in 1995. She retired from this work at the age of 87.
She was a member of the Hope Lutheran Church in Tonasket, Wash.
She is survived by sisters Ruth Moore of Tonasket, Wash., and Betty Walvotne of Seattle, Wash.; children Harvey Petersen of Reno, Nev., Soren Petersen of Loomis, Wash., Christine Richardson of Lebanon; daughter-in-law Sharon Petersen of Collierville, Tenn.; granddaughters Suzie Kloth of Okanogan, Wash., Penny Stattler of Omak, Wash, Kristy Hacker of Lebanon, Jenny Petersen of Coldwater, Miss., Christina Clements of DeRidder, La., and Amanda Petersen of Colliersville, Tenn.; grandsons Jim Petersen and Dan (Boone) Petersen, both of Reno, Nev.; great-granddaughters Samantha and Nicole Stattler, both of Omak, Wash., and Katelyn Hacker of Lebanon; great-grandson Conner Hacker of Lebanon; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Her parents; brothers Bill, Hans, and Fred; sister Marie Van DerSchelden; both husbands; son Tom; and great-granddaughter Emily Petersen died before she did.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be directed to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or the charity of the donor's choice.
Huston-Jost Funeral Home and Precht, Harrison, Nearants Funeral Home of Omak, Wash., are in charge of arrangements.