Adella Mae Petersen
October 27, 1929 - August 16, 2014
Obituary
ADELLA MAE PETERSEN
1929-2014
Adella Mae Petersen passed away on August 16, 2014, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, Washington. Adella was born on October 27, 1929, in Glenham, South Dakota, the first child of Herman and Minnie Klein. Her early life was spent living on the family farm near Herreid, South Dakota. When she was 13 the family moved to a farm near Harrisburg, South Dakota. Immediately after her graduation as salutatorian from Harrisburg High School, the family moved to Everett, Washington.
Her first employment was as a telephone operator for the West Coast Telephone Company. There she developed skills that she utilized throughout the rest of her working life. She met her husband, Eugene Robert Sitzler when he was stationed in the Air Force near Everett. A veteran of World War II, he served in Korea after their marriage. Their first child, Stanley, was born while he was in Korea, and she was living on the family farm in Arlington, Washington.
Adella’s first job as a telephone operator was put to good use as she obtained work as an operator on military bases around the country as her husband’s assignments took them to Maine, Alaska, Utah, Colorado, and Mountain Home, Idaho. Her daughter Denise was born in Maine, and daughter Terry in Alaska. She also worked on naval bases in Long Beach and San Diego, California. After retiring from civil service, she completed her career working in customer service for Comcast Television in Auburn, Washington.
In all of her positions, Adella was respected and honored as a skilled, hard worker. She won several awards for her work, including a commendation from the Navy for her outstanding work as the ship to shore communications liaison during the return of a major vessel.
Adella took piano lessons when she was young, had a lovely singing voice and played the guitar when she was a teenager. She was featured on radio broadcasts several times from a station in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Later she played her Hammond organ for her family’s pleasure.
She was pre-deceased by her first husband Eugene Robert Sitzler and her second husband Sam Gordon Robert Petersen, a naval officer, her son Stanley Sitzler and youngest daughter, Terrie Sitzler. She is survived by her daughter, Denise Marleau of Auburn, her brother Donald Klein, residing in Modesto, California, sister Elaine Klein, residing in Boise, Idaho, and sister Arlene Karen Musch residing on Camano Island, Washington. She is also survived by her 4 grandchildren: Mark Sitzler, residing in Puyallup, with whom she lived the last two years, Jerrod Marleau, Tacoma, Karra Hall, Newburg, New York, and Kaile Elliott, Auburn. She had 5 great grandchildren: Madison and Corey Perault, John and Clara Hall, and Brandon Marleau. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A Visitation for Adella will be held Thursday, August 28th at Bonney-Watson Washington Memorial for 2:00-5:00pm. Services commemorating her life will be held on Friday, August 29th, at 3:00 p.m. at the Bonney-Watson Washington Memorial, 16445 International Blvd, SeaTac, WA 98188. Internment will be at Washington Memorial Cemetery next to her husband Sam Petersen.
Rest in peace, Adella. We will always remember sharing your Seahawks tickets and what an enthusiastic fan you were. Thanks for being stationed in Mountain Home, ID. LOL
words cannot express my sorrow at adella’s passing. when i first started working with adella almost 25 years ago, she was a mentor and a role model. she is at rest and at peace now. i truly admired and respected her. God bless!
I worked side by side with my good friend Miss adella she was hard worker and i looked up to her as grandmother to me i made good friends with her daughter teri we were great friends and have best of times i even took her to last Ozzie Concert just before Teri passed she is sick but still enjoyed our time together i know we’ve have alot great crazy stories of our adventures together and i will miss both this special people dearly…Life is short so just live it the best you can look the for good in people and try be there during hard times and sorrow..God bless..Becky
To Denise
Anyone that knew Adella & family ..I would appreciate a reply