Kathy (Files) Peterson, 71, of Richland, Mo., died at 11:20 p.m. July 19, 2023, at Phelps County Hospital in Rolla, Mo., after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.Kathy (Files) Peterson, 71, of Richland, Mo., died at 11:20 p.m. July 19, 2023, at Phelps County Hospital in Rolla, Mo., after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.
She was born Aug. 11, 1951, in Osceola, Iowa, a daughter of Annie Amelia Whitehead Files and Vernon Files. She married Ken Peterson on June 13, 1970, at Murray Church of Christ. He survives.
Also surviving are two children, Amy (and Kip) Hurst and Matthew (and Maria) Peterson; one sister, Dorothy White; two brothers, Ray (and Laveda) Files and Robert “Bo” (and Nancy) Files; one half sister, Michele Harvison; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
She grew up in Murray, Iowa. She was an active member of Murray Church of Christ, participating in the Youth Choir, “Christ’s Crusaders.” She attended the Murray school from kindergarten until graduation in 1969. She then attended Ozark Bible College in Joplin, Mo.
She worked for K-Mart and as a church secretary in Kentucky, in admissions and as a secretary and bookkeeper for Chadron State College in Nebraska and Western Illinois University in Macomb. She was an incredible asset as she ministered along side of her pastor husband over 48 years of ministry. They pastored churches in Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois and did mission work in Kostroma, Russia.
A graveside service will be held at the Murray Cemetery at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5.
Celebration of Life services will be held at First Christian Church in Richland at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, and at Summum Christian Church at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, with a meal preceding at 12:30 p.m.
The family prefers no flowers, but donations may be made to either: Ozark Christian College, 1111 N. Main, Joplin, MO 6480 or to Mission2Russia, Light to the World Academy, PO Box 755, Saint Peters, MO 63376.
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