Marie E. Peterson, age 79, of Andover passed away February 1, 2009 at Mercy Hosptial in Coon Rapids.  Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 5th at Strike Funeral Home – Isanti Chapel with Father Frank Tomasiewicz officiating.  A visitation will be held two hours prior to the service.  Interment will be in Athens Lutheran Cemetery. 

Marie Elizabeth Peterson was born May 27, 1929 in Minot, North Dakota to John and Mary Murphy. She was raised in the Devils Lake, North Dakota area. On March 8, 1952 she married Raymond L. Peterson in Moorhead, Minnesota. They made their home in Fargo until 1972 when they moved to Andover. Marie loved animals and birds, both domestic and wild. She would care for lost or unwanted animals and would provide for them with love and care. Marie was known as “Grandma Pete” the “animal lady”. At the time of her death she had 2 birds, 7 cats and 4 dogs that she enjoyed immensely.

Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond in 2003; and son, Raymond, Jr. in 2008. Marie is survived by her daughter, Bonnie Olson and Nick Wolf of Blaine; two sons, Richard Peterson and Barb Kinseth of Andover and Barb’s children, Cody and Kattie; David Peterson of Andover; two grandchildren, Jimmy and Sharon Olson of Blaine; one great-granddaughter, Allisa of Blaine; one brother, Uncle John Kovatch of East Bethel; one sister, Anna Rose Rivera of Greenville, Michigan; by many nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.