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Obituaries

Journey to the Spirit World

This page serves as a space to honor and remember the lives of our tribal members who have passed away. Here, we come together as a compassionate and supportive community to pay tribute to their legacies.

Obituary picture of Judith L. Petersen
Judith L. Petersen

Born June 6, 1946
Journeyed to the Spirit World – April 7, 2015

Judith L. Petersen, 68, passed away Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at Avera Flandreau Hospital. She was born June 6, 1946 in Pipestone, MN to Edward and Beatrice (Heminger) Hansen. She graduated from Flandreau High School in 1964 and attended SDSU in Brookings for two years at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay for two years to complete her B.A. degree in Social Work. Judy lived in Green Bay until 1983 when she moved back to Flandreau. She married James F. Petersen, Sr. on May 19, 1984 in Flandreau. Judy was a former Tribal Chairwoman and in her term as chairwoman she assisted in negotiating the Gaming Compact with the state of South Dakota to bring live gambling to the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe. Judy worked in management at Royal River Casino for 17 years. Her husband preceded her in death August 9, 2011. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe and Kiwanis Club. Judy enjoyed reading, raising and rescuing homeless dogs and cats, embroidery and cooking.

Judy is survived by her son John (Beth) Miller, Sun Prairie, WI, daughter Sonja Miller, Oklahoma City, OK, four grandchildren, Makaylah, Kendra, Sam and Elena, Napoleon Gilbert and Landan Heinricy who Judy considered to be her children and near and dear to her heart, father Ed Hansen, Sr., four siblings, Janet Johnson, Ed Hansen, Jr., JoAnn Sundermeyer and Wesley Hansen, all of Flandreau, seven nieces, six nephews, and many great-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, mother, sister Joyce Doyle, grandparents and two aunts.