SHELDON, Iowa — Dorothy Mae Petersen, 92, Sheldon, Iowa, died April 25, 2026, at Sanford Sheldon Medical Center.

Her funeral service will be at 11 a.m., April 29, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sheldon, with Rev. Christopher Martin officiating.

Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery, Jackson, Minn.

Visitation with family present will be from 10-10:45 a.m., at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sheldon.

Arrangements are under the care of the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home, Sheldon.

Dorothy Mae Petersen, the daughter of Charles T. and Lillian (Ballentine) Burrus, was born April 16, 1934, in Niobrara. She moved to Jackson, Minn., with her family in 1950. Dorothy married Arthur Petersen Feb. 20, 1955, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Jackson. The couple made their home on a farm near Petersburg, Minn., where they farmed until 1969. They moved to Sheldon, Iowa, and owned and operated the Sheldon Motel until 1977. They then purchased the A&W Restaurant and operated it until 1989. Dorothy was a cashier at Joyce’s Foods, and after it closed, she did grocery shopping for the residents of Village Northwest Unlimited.

Dorothy was a member of St. Paul Lutheran church in Sheldon. She was a wonderful cook and hosted many family gatherings. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles and watching golf on TV. She also enjoyed live webcams of eagles and their nests.

Those left to cherish her memory are her five children, Kevin (Noreen) Petersen, Bradley Petersen, Kristi (Wade) Wassenaar, all of Sheldon, Iowa; Charles (Paula) Petersen, Lowry, Minn., and Mark (Ann) Petersen, Sanborn, Iowa; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; siblings, Edith Rohde, Randolph, and Tom Burrus, Tacoma, Wash.; and other relatives and friends.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Lillian; step mother, Genevieve; husband, Arthur; sisters, Myra (Donald) Gronlund, Lois (Arel) Anderson, Betty (Clarence) Konken; brothers, Willard (Thelma), Earl, Bobby, Jim (Dorothy) and Richard; and brotherin- law, Merle Rohde.