Nellie “Nell” Gehrke Peterson, 79, of Hutchinson passed away on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson. Memorial Service was Saturday, November 30, 2024, 11 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Hutchinson with interment in Oakland Cemetery, Hutchinson. Clergy Officiating: Reverend Greg Tobison; Organist: Jon Wheeler; Soloist: Jon Wheeler, “Go Rest High On That Mountain”; Congregational Hymns: “The Old Rugged Cross”, “How Great Thou Art”, “Amazing Grace”, “On Eagle’s Wings”; Honorary Urn Bearers: Grandchildren – Alex Messner, Madilyn Gehrke, Morgan Gehrke, Ethan Block; Urn Bearer: Grandson – Mitchell Messner Nell was born April 17, 1945, in Hickory, N.C., She was the daughter of Elmer and Nelie (Smith) Brittain. Nell was the ninth of 10 children and has many fond memories of her large family.
She was baptized in the Baptist church as a youth and later confirmed and baptized at Grace Lutheran Church in Hutchinson in 1969. Nell grew up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and attended George Hildebran School, graduating with the class of 1963. She was an avid basketball player. Upon graduation, Nell went to work in Washington, D.C., for the Federal Bureau of Investigation where she worked for J. Edgar Hoover. It was there she met the love of her life, David. They were married and later moved to Minneapolis where Nell continued employment with the FBI Minneapolis field office. Later they moved to Hutchinson where she worked for 3M and then became a stay-at-home mom. Nell cherished those years of being at home as a mother and wife with so many wonderful memories and always felt she was blessed to be able to carry out that chosen role. Nell was married to David E. Gehrke on September 25, 1965, in Washington, D.C.
They shared 45 years of marriage and their marriage was blessed with two marvelous children, Stacy and Eric. Nell spent many years serving her community at Grace Lutheran Church, Hospice, Harmony River, Hutchinson Health, and Saturday Night Cruisers. She loved Hutchinson and promoted it as the best place in the world to live. Nell and David enjoyed dancing, woodworking projects, traveling, especially to North Carolina and winters in Mazatlán, Mexico, and spending time at their sawmill until his passing on October 10, 2010. She was blessed to have love come into her life again and married Robert “Bob” Peterson on June 7, 2013. They enjoyed motorcycle riding, Car Cruise-Ins, winters in Lake Havasu, Ariz., dancing, and bingo. Nell also enjoyed crocheting, machine embroidery, reading, Minnesota sports and NASCAR. She cherished her family time. Dinners together, baking with grandchildren, cheering at her grandchildren’s events, and family vacations were always a priority.
Nell is survived by her husband Bob Peterson; daughter Stacy Messner and her husband Keith; son Eric Gehrke and his wife Kari; stepdaughter Bridget Block and her husband Jon, all of Hutchinson; grandchildren, Mitchell Messner (Sadie); Alex Messner (fiancé Jessica); Madilyn Gehrke; Morgan Gehrke; and step grandson, Ethan Block, and many other relatives and friends. Nell was preceded in death by her first husband, David Gehrke; parents, Elmer and Nelie Brittain; father- and mother-in-law Elton and Grace Gehrke; stepdaughter Christine VanderVoort; and four siblings. Nell asks that you remember her as a loving and compassionate wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She had strong faith in knowing that life here was temporary and that someday she would be in heaven with her Lord and Savior. Praise the Lord and thank you for this wonderful life here on earth and for eternal life in heaven. Blessed be her memory. Arrangements by Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hutchinson. Online obituaries and guestbook available at www.hantge.com.
