Geraldine L. 'Dolly' Peterson

Geraldine L. ‘Dolly’ Peterson, age 90, of Merrill, passed away Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at her home under the care of her family and Compassus Hospice.

Dolly was born February 18, 1932, in Merrill, daughter of the late James and Eda (Thoresdahl) Kimmons. She married Dale ‘Sonny’ Peterson on January 6, 1951, at the former Bethany Lutheran Church in Irma. He survives. Dolly and Sonny moved to Beloit in 1965. Upon retirement in 1991, they returned to the Merrill area. Dolly worked at Regal Beloit for many years and worked as a daytime bartender at a supper club in the Beloit area. In retirement, they enjoyed wintering in Arizona and Texas.

Dolly was an excellent athlete and enjoyed playing softball, golfing, bowling, and racing stock cars. She enjoyed the outdoors especially grouse hunting, and bass fishing. She was a great cook and baker and will be remembered for her chocolate pies and banana cream pies. Dolly was a longtime member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Irma.

Survivors include her husband of 71 years, Dale ‘Sonny’ Peterson; children, Cheryl (Jim) Losey of Irma, Cindy (Mike) Meier of Irma, Dale W. ‘Pete’ (Diane) Peterson of Corpus Christi, TX, and Bruce (Debbie) Peterson of Beloit; grandchildren, Matthew, Joel, Sara, Josh, Lisa, Ryan, Liz ‘Myrt’, Chad, Michelle, and Shannon; twenty great grandchildren; five great great grandchildren; sister, Shirley (Jim) Martin of Bakersfield, CA; sister-in-law, Judy Kimmons of Irma; and many nieces and nephews. Dolly was preceded in death by her parents, James and Eda Kimmons; siblings, James (Marion) Kimmins, Leonard (Harriet) Kimmons, Delores ‘Dee’ Kimmons, Donald Kimmons, Dale Kimmons, and Robert (Janice) Kimmons; and brother-in-law, Jim Ford.

The visitation for Dolly Peterson will be held from 3:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M., Sunday, November 13, 2022, at the Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill. The memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, November 17, 2022, at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Irma. Rev. David Sutton will officiate. Visitation will begin Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 10:00 A.M. at the church. Interment will take place at Bethany Cemetery, Town of Birch, Lincoln County. Taylor-Stine Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the family.