Rachel C. Petersen

Rachel C. Petersen, 81, passed away June 25, 2017 at Humboldt County Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be Wed. June 28 at 11:30 a.m., visitation will be 10:00 a.m. Wed., June 28, 2017 until the time of the services at the Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt.
Rachel Petersen, the daughter of Harold and Edith Pannell, was born July 27, 1935 at Hardy, Iowa. She graduated from Renwick High School where she reigned as the school’s first Homecoming Queen. She married Clifford Gabba, and the couple lived in Corpus Christi, Texas for 7 years. Four children were born to this union. Their marriage was dissolved in 1964. In 1968, Rachel married Arthur Petersen at the Rutland Lutheran Church. Art passed away March 2, 2000.
Rachel loved music and enjoyed singing. She was a member of Humboldt Community Chorus and recorded a few solo records of her vocalizations. Rachel was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church as well as the Hospital Auxiliary. She reputedly had the reddest hat of all the Red Hat Ladies in Humboldt. She enjoyed volunteer work and was particularly proud of her mission trip to Guyana. Rachel also was an avid flower gardener.
Rachel is survived by her sons, John Petersen of Humboldt, Peter Gabba of Livingston, MT, Tim Petersen of Forest City, IA, Mike Gabba of Priest River, ID; daughters, Mary (Gabba) Stubbs of San Juan Capistrano, CA, Julie (Petersen) Detrick of Humboldt, Denise (Petersen) Beyenhof of Council Bluffs, IA, and Diane (Petersen) Kampen of Humboldt; 12 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; and her brother, Harold Pannell. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Arthur; daughter, Julie; and sister, Alice Halverson.