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Phyllis Elaine Peterson, age 92, passed away peacefully on September 21, 2026.
Phyllis was born July 20, 1934, in Nickerson, Nebraska, to William and Hilda Franke. She grew up in the Fremont and Arlington, Nebraska, area. She attended grade school at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Arlington, later attended Arlington High School, and graduated from Fremont High School in 1952.
After high school, Phyllis married Verdell Scheer. Verdell passed away in 1960. She later married Estel Phillippe, and Phyllis and Estel divorced in 1986. In 1995, Phyllis married James Peterson, and together they shared many years, adventures, and wonderful memories. Later in life, Phyllis worked as an executive secretary for the phone company in Denver, Colorado, where she made many friends and enjoyed the life she built there.
Phyllis lived a full and adventurous life. She loved golf, bridge, garage sales, art, and traveling. She and Jim enjoyed playing golf at Fremont Country Club and would often follow a round of golf with a game of bridge. Together, they traveled to faraway places and went on more than seven cruises around the world. Phyllis and Jim eventually moved to Mesa, Arizona, where they lived on a golf course. In time, they returned to Fremont, Nebraska, to be closer to their family.
Phyllis was a deeply giving person who was always thinking of others. She loved helping people and volunteered with the Red Cross. She was very active in her church and valued her faith and church family.
Phyllis especially loved bringing people together. She enjoyed entertaining and hosting family and friends, and she would much rather entertain than be entertained. She was a giver, not a taker, and her greatest joy was making sure that everyone around her was happy, comfortable, and cared for.
Allie, her beloved dog and loyal companion for 13 years, was also a special part of Phyllis and Jim’s life.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, William and Hilda Franke; her son, Gregg; and her husbands, Verdell Scheer, Estel Phillippe, and James Peterson, who passed away in 2023.
She is survived by her son, Randy Scheer; daughter-in-law, Kris; grandchildren, Ashley and Drew Bruning; great-grandchildren, Lucas and Calia; stepchildren, Karen Maresh, Carol Lindley, Brian Peterson, and Mark Peterson; daughter-in-law, Mary Scheer; brother-in-law, Wayne Scheer; and many nieces and nephews.
Phyllis will be remembered for her generous heart, her love of family and friends, her faith, her hospitality, and the genuine care she showed to the people around her. She found happiness in bringing people together and making others feel welcome. Her legacy lives on in the many people whose lives she touched and in the family and friends who will carry her memory with them.
A graveside service for family members will be held at 9:30 a.m. on October 7, 2026, at Memorial Cemetery in Fremont, Nebraska. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on October 7, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fremont with a luncheon to follow. Ludvigsen Mortuary in Fremont in charge of arrangements. Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church.
Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com
Phyllis was born July 20, 1934, in Nickerson, Nebraska, to William and Hilda Franke. She grew up in the Fremont and Arlington, Nebraska, area. She attended grade school at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Arlington, later attended Arlington High School, and graduated from Fremont High School in 1952.
After high school, Phyllis married Verdell Scheer. Verdell passed away in 1960. She later married Estel Phillippe, and Phyllis and Estel divorced in 1986. In 1995, Phyllis married James Peterson, and together they shared many years, adventures, and wonderful memories. Later in life, Phyllis worked as an executive secretary for the phone company in Denver, Colorado, where she made many friends and enjoyed the life she built there.
Phyllis lived a full and adventurous life. She loved golf, bridge, garage sales, art, and traveling. She and Jim enjoyed playing golf at Fremont Country Club and would often follow a round of golf with a game of bridge. Together, they traveled to faraway places and went on more than seven cruises around the world. Phyllis and Jim eventually moved to Mesa, Arizona, where they lived on a golf course. In time, they returned to Fremont, Nebraska, to be closer to their family.
Phyllis was a deeply giving person who was always thinking of others. She loved helping people and volunteered with the Red Cross. She was very active in her church and valued her faith and church family.
Phyllis especially loved bringing people together. She enjoyed entertaining and hosting family and friends, and she would much rather entertain than be entertained. She was a giver, not a taker, and her greatest joy was making sure that everyone around her was happy, comfortable, and cared for.
Allie, her beloved dog and loyal companion for 13 years, was also a special part of Phyllis and Jim’s life.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, William and Hilda Franke; her son, Gregg; and her husbands, Verdell Scheer, Estel Phillippe, and James Peterson, who passed away in 2023.
She is survived by her son, Randy Scheer; daughter-in-law, Kris; grandchildren, Ashley and Drew Bruning; great-grandchildren, Lucas and Calia; stepchildren, Karen Maresh, Carol Lindley, Brian Peterson, and Mark Peterson; daughter-in-law, Mary Scheer; brother-in-law, Wayne Scheer; and many nieces and nephews.
Phyllis will be remembered for her generous heart, her love of family and friends, her faith, her hospitality, and the genuine care she showed to the people around her. She found happiness in bringing people together and making others feel welcome. Her legacy lives on in the many people whose lives she touched and in the family and friends who will carry her memory with them.
A graveside service for family members will be held at 9:30 a.m. on October 7, 2026, at Memorial Cemetery in Fremont, Nebraska. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on October 7, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fremont with a luncheon to follow. Ludvigsen Mortuary in Fremont in charge of arrangements. Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church.
Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com