Reita Jean Lundy Petersen, 90, of Burwell, Nebraska died August 22, 2023 at Bryan West Medical Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 26, 2023 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Burwell, Nebraska. Burial will be in Cottonwood Cemetery in Burwell. Pastor Alan Petersen will officiate. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, August 25, at the church. Hitchcock Funeral Home in Burwell is in charge of arrangements.
Reita was born June 28, 1933 in Walworth, Nebraska to Victor and Verna (WyKoff) Lundy. She was united in marriage to Russell Petersen on October 21, 1954. They had two children, Doyle J. Petersen and LeAnn Reneè Petersen Huhman.
Russell and Reita lived on the Petersen “home place” where they ranched in eastern Loup County in the Pleasant View Community.
During that time Reita kept herself busy by doing numerous ranch chores including, but not limited to canning, cooking, processing chickens, and eventually making and decorating wedding, birthday, and all other occasion cakes. She made her first cake in 1964 and continued to make birthday and wedding cakes for her family and friends. Although Reita’s cakes were the best around, she never felt it was necessary to keep her recipe a secret and loved teaching her granddaughters her skills. Not only did Reita enjoy sharing her knowledge of cake-making, but she also enjoyed sharing her vast knowledge of homesteading skills. Some of which includes; properly dressing chickens, mending jeans, decorating cakes, and canning.
Reita’s love for bestowing knowledge extended far beyond her family. Annually she spoke to the 4th grade classes in the area about proper flag etiquette. Many children owe their knowledge of the flag to Reita. We all owe our thanks to Reita for the beloved “Avenue of Flags.”
Reita and Russell started the Avenue of Flags in 1992 with 72 flags and have watched it grow to a staggering 440 flags. This is truly one of Reita’s greatest projects and the love our flag lady had for expanding and teaching about our great American Flag is appreciated.
Reita truly was a family woman. She cared deeply about everyone that she deemed her family, whether related by blood or not. Reita attended any close sports activities, graduations, birthday parties, or family get-togethers. She always called everyone on their birthday to sing them “happy birthday” and delivered pies, peanut brittle, and homemade noodles.
Reita is survived by her two children and their spouses, Doyle and Nanette Petersen of Burwell, Nebraska and LeAnn and Doug Huhman of Taylor, Nebraska, six grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren: Jossi and Matt Jeffres and their 5 children, Jimmy and Lisa Petersen and their 5 girls, Precilla and Jeff Stout and their 4 children, and Dulcie and John Chaffin and their 4 children all of Burwell. Tanya (Huhman) Wheeler and 2 children from California and Kip Huhman from Texas. And 4 great great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sidekick Patsy Gaukel and her cat, Pickle. Several cousins and many extended family members and a host of friends and neighbors.
Reita was preceded in death by her loving husband Russell, her parents Victor Lundy, Verna and Paul Patterson and a sister Rea Joane.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Avenue of Flags or the Burwell Fire Department.
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