Selma Peters, 101, of Viking, MN died Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009 at the Thief River Care Center in Thief River Falls, MN with her loving family at her side.

Funeral service will be held 10:30 AM Thursday, April 16, 2009 at Zion Lutheran Church in Viking, MN with Pastor Ollie Urdahl officiating. Burial will follow at Viking Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 until 8:00 PM Wednesday, April 15, 2009 with a 7:00 PM prayer service at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held from 9:30 AM until time of the funeral on Thursday at the church.

Selma Bertina Holden was born August 21, 1907 in Canton, SD the daughter of Erik and Gunhild (Dokken) Holden. She was baptized into the Lutheran faith. In 1911 the Holden family purchased a farm in Viking Township, near Viking, MN where she attended the Gustafson School. Selma was confirmed in Norwegian at Zion Lutheran Church in Viking, MN.

She rode the train to Warren, MN and worked for a year at the Warren Hotel in 1926 and then went to work at the Farmers Co-op Store in Viking. On August 18, 1929, Selma Holden and John Richard Peters, in a new Chevrolet coupe and a picnic lunch, went to Clearbrook, MN (they had told everybody they were going on a picnic), and came home married. To this union there were five children born, Donald, Wayne, Gary, Bonita and Jerome.

Selma farmed along with her husband for many years and continued to work and manage the Farmers Co-op Store until 1970. Then she worked at Arctic Cat sewing snowmobile clothing prototypes. In the early 1970s she went to work as a seamstress, doing alterations at Bjorkmans Clothing Store until she retired in the early 1980s.

Johnny died on August 23, 1968 and then the six members of Donald Peters family moved in as did Selmas brother, Sigurd. She opened her heart and her home to many family members throughout the years. Selma had a never-ending generosity and concern for others, along with an amazing ability to flow with the times.

Selma enjoyed traveling with her sisters, Ella and Borghild and her grandchildren. She made three trips to Norway where she visited family and made other trips to Hawaii, California, Arizona, Tennessee and many other places around the country. Selma crocheted huge table cloths and doilies for her family. She inspired many future generations with her passion for her lefse, donuts, buns, dumplings and many other baked goods. She sewed wedding dresses for family members and taught many how to sew. She made authentic Norwegian dresses from that area of Norway where her family was from. She enjoyed many crafts including macram and also enjoyed games including yahtzee, cards, bingo and puzzles.

Selma was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Viking, MN where she was active in the Ladies Aide. She was also active in the Sons of Norway, Eagles Auxiliary, 4-H, and served as Grand Marshall of the Viking parade for many years.

Survivors include her children, Wayne (JoAnn) Peters of Viking, Gary (Shari) Peters of Viking, Bonita (George) Alafouzos of Wausau, WI and Jerome (Cheryl) Peters of Viking; daughter-in-law, Fern Peters Bock of Viking; 17 grandchildren, Michael, Suzanne, Vance, Scott, Rena, Jill, Paula, Nancy, Chad, Kristen, Matthew, Jeff, Jenny, Tony, Alexia, Kim, and John; 33 great-grandchildren; 6 great great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Lenelle Peters of Thief River Falls; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, John; son, Donald; brothers, Sigurd and Gilbert; sisters, Borghild and Ella; grandsons-in-law, Elliot Baker and Bruce Kliedon.

Special Music: Greg Dally & Paula Adamson
Selections: Thank God For Kids & Holes In The Floor Of Heaven
Congregational Hymns: Amazing Grace & Beyond The Sunset
Casketbearers~Grandsons: Tony Alafouzos, John Peters, Matthew Peters, Chad Peters, Vance Peters, Scott Peters, Jaime Miramontes
Honorary Pallbearers~Granddaughters: Suzanne Puschinsky, Rena Collins, Jill Potucek, Paula Kliedon, Nancy Gerszewski, Kristen Mostrom, Jennifer Redden, Alexia Gossett, Kim Chwialkowski