Faye Petersen

Faye Louise Petersen, longtime resident of Ponca City, passed Monday morning, November 16, 2009 at her home. She was 86 years of age. Faye was born January 24, 1923 on a farm near Peckham, Oklahoma, the daughter of Raymond Rancie Hasselbring and Cynthia Ella Trenary Hasselbring. She was baptized at an early age at the Tonkawa Christian Church and was a member of the Braman Christian Church. Her family moved to the Three Sands, Oklahoma community in 1934 where she attended school. During those years she played the saxophone and was on the basketball team. She graduated from the Three Sands Central High School in the early 1940s. After high school she got her cosmetology certificate and also worked at Southwestern Bell as a telephone operator for three years. When her family was grown she worked as a receptionist for Dr. Steve Lindell for several years. She was married to Leland V. Petersen on July 11, 1945 in Braman. After moving to Ponca City the couple spent 712 years building the home in which she still owned and visited frequently with her family. During the last three years she was lovingly cared for at The Renaissance by a fantastic staff. Faye and Leland were charter members of Woodlands Christian Church where they were very active with Faye working with the womens group and giving loving care to the babies and toddlers. One of Fayes great gifts was her open arms of acceptance of anyone needing a home, a meal or just a listening ear. She was a great seamstress who enjoyed working in her flower gardens, decorating cakes and collecting dolls. Faye also had a passion for music and dancing. Faye is survived by her five children, Vicky Wales and husband, Ed, Plano, Texas, Karla Martin Dexter, Portland, Oregon, Sherry Watson and husband, Terry, Edmond, Oklahoma, Elaine Vardeman and husband, Lee, Perry, Oklahoma, and Steven Petersen and wife, Sheila, of Ponca City; 12 grandchildren, Chris Wales, Tonya and Todd Folkerts, Paul Martin, Jeff and Sarah Watson, Brian Watson, Kevin Watson, Keith Vardeman, Kaylee Vardeman, Tessa and Jeremy Bristow; 7 great grandchildren, Brady, Lane, and Blake Bristow, Lauren Martin, James, Ella and Jack Folkerts. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; one infant son, Keith Allen Petersen; two brothers, Chester Hasselbring and Francis Ray Hasselbring; and one son-in-law, Gary Dexter. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, November 20, 2009 at Woodlands Christian Church with Pastor Paul Krueger presiding. Interment will be in the Braman Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. The casket will be closed at the service but family and friends may call at Grace Memorial Chapel until 9 p.m. Thursday evening. Casket bearers will be her grandsons, Chris Wales, Jeff Watson, Brian Watson, Kevin Watson, Keith Vardeman and Jeremy Bristow. Memorial contributions may be made to Woodlands Christian Church, 1400 East Hartford, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74604 or to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 1904 North Union, Suite 103, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74601.