Nancy J. Peterson

Nancy Jo Peterson, 77, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away June 19, 2022, at her home surrounded by her husband and two daughters.

Memorial service will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 1, 2022, at Schriver’s Memorial Chapel.  Pastor Lou Whitmer of North Highland United Methodist Church will be officiating, with a luncheon to follow at Schriver’s Memorial Fellowship Center. Visitation with family present will be one hour before the service at the mortuary.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.  Family and friends may sign the online guestbook and also view the service at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Nancy Jo Schpok was born October 19, 1944, In Chicago, Illinois to Marvin and Jeanne (Kohner) Schpok. The family moved to Aberdeen when she was five, so her parents could co-own and operate the New York Store Inc; a woman’s clothing store in downtown Aberdeen.

Nancy attended public schools in Aberdeen, and it was at Monroe Jr. High where the cute cheerleader caught Gary’s attention.  They began dating, and have been together ever since.  She began bowling in Jr. High and became a very accomplished bowler. Nancy’s father suffered from Lou Gehrig’s disease and passed away when she was a senior in high school.  After graduation from Aberdeen Central High School in 1962, she attended one semester at the University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ).  Nancy then returned home to help her mother run the family business.

She married Gary W. Peterson on July 26th, 1963.  The couple made their home in Aberdeen where they raised their two daughters.

Nancy began her retail career as a buyer and sales associate at The New York Store in Aberdeen.  She later worked at both Pred’s Coats and Feinstein’s, as a buyer and manager.  As a buyer, she would attend buying trips to New York City.  Nancy and fellow associates would attend Broadway plays and musicals, which were highlights of the trip.  After Feinstein’s closed, she became the assistant manager of the clothing department at Kessler’s and later in charge of the Health & Beauty Aide Department.  She worked there for twenty years until she retired in December of 2011.

Nancy’s grandchildren meant the world to her.  She enjoyed attending their school and athletic activities.  She was very proud of their accomplishments and was fortunate to see all six grandchildren graduate from college, and begin their careers.  Nancy especially enjoyed becoming a great-grandmother.  She enjoyed receiving frequent photos of Eleanor via text and loved to share them with anyone that she saw.

Nancy and her husband Gary enjoyed spending the summers at their lake cabin on Blue Dog Lake where she enjoyed fishing, boating, and water skiing in her younger years.

Grateful for having shared Nancy’s life are her husband Gary W. Peterson; two daughters: Stacey (K.C.) DeBoer of Sioux Falls SD, and Deb (Tom) Janish of Aberdeen, SD; Grandchildren: Ryan (Amanda) Janish, Andrew Janish, Daniel (Olivia) DeBoer, Matthew DeBoer, Jennifer Janish, Eric DeBoer; great-granddaughter Eleanor Janish; sister, Sandra Gilbert; Sisters-in-law: Ardyth Peterson and Sherry Walker; several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents Marvin and Jeanne Schpok; her in-laws Roger W. and Claudia Peterson; brother Robert Schpok; and Brothers-in-law Jay Gilbert and Roger W. Peterson Jr.

Honorary Pallbearers will be all of Nancy’s Grandchildren and her Great-granddaughter.

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