Erna Marie (Meinhardt) Petersen, 94, passed away April 24, 2026, at Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center in Brush, CO.

Erna was born November 20, 1931, in Park City, Montana to Alwina (Schmidt) and Fred Meinhardt. She spent her growing up years there and after graduation from Park City High School, attended Eastern Montana College where she earned her teaching certificate.

A teaching job led her to Denton, Montana where she met her future husband, Bob. They were married on August 5, 1956. In 1965, a job change for Bob necessitated the family's move to his hometown of Brush, Colorado where they remained. Erna was a substitute teacher for several years and then became a paraprofessional working in the special education department at Thompson Elementary school until her retirement in 1997.

Erna was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Morgan where she taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible school, confirmation classes, attended ladies' groups, participated in LWML and sang in the choir which was her particular joy.

Erna loved to garden and was famous for her canned dill pickles. She enjoyed reading and puzzle books and in their younger years she and Bob loved to polka dance and made many friends along the way.

She is survived by her children, Steve (Terri) Petersen, Karen (Louis) Jugert and Jim Petersen; grandchildren Ashley (Eric) Ramsey, Mitchell (Jillian) Jugert, Michael (Elise) Petersen, Alexandra Petersen; great-grandchildren Tyson Ramsey and Holly Jugert; sisters-in-law Cheryl Meinhardt, Shirley Schilling, Patty (Pete) Belvill, and Betty Petersen, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband and followed in death one day later by her brother Rudy.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to Trinity Lutheran Church of Fort Morgan, Colorado.

A celebration of life will be held on May 23, 2026, at 10:30 am at Trinity Lutheran Church and School located at 1215 W 7th Ave, Fort Morgan, CO 80701. The inurnment will follow at 1:30 pm at the Brush Cemetery.