Catherine Eve Peterson

Catherine (Cathy) E. Peterson, a child of God who lived a wonderfully blessed life and embodied the Biblical picture of a woman, wife, and mother (Proverbs 31:25-30), died on Saturday, October 13, in Beaumont, California. She was 71 and now lives eternally in the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Cathy was born in Peking (now Beijing), China to Hilde (Eichelbaum) Fechner, who had escaped persecution from Nazi Germany in 1938 and fled to the world’s most populous country. In 1948, Hilde and Cathy immigrated to the United States, initially landing in San Francisco then Greenwich, Connecticut before settling in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Dance was Cathy’s first love as she spent countless hours of her early years studying and training at the Andahazy Ballet Company, which trained dancers around the world for more than 60 years in St. Paul. Reserved as a child, Cathy was able to gracefully express herself through dance. She showcased her talents in musical productions (such as Scheherazade, Oklahoma, and South Pacific) in some of the premier theatres of the Twin Cities.

During her senior year at St. Paul Central High School, Cathy met and fell in love with Ronald Peterson, a dairy farm boy from New Richmond, Wisconsin. It was a match made in heaven. Both were determined people with strong convictions, and over the next five decades, they built a family foundation on faith in Jesus and God’s Word. They raised three children (Brian, Eve, and Erika) moving throughout the country. Their adventures took them from Minnesota to Arkansas to Texas to California to Wisconsin to Florida to North Carolina and finally back to California.

Married for 53 years, Cathy and Ron were always a great team. Cathy earned an associate degree at the Globe Business School in St. Paul while Ron finished his bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. As Ron began his business career, Cathy opened a ballet studio of her own in New Richmond. When Ron became co-owner of Paragon Building Products in California, Cathy served as his trusted counselor and office manager. They continued their partnership, forming Covenant Foundation Ltd and running a small business together in Redlands, California from 1998-2015.

Growing up with no siblings and in a single-parent home, Cathy had a special place in her heart for others in need. Family meant everything to Cathy, and family joyfully extended to friends, business associates, and members of their church. Cathy and Ron helped start Crossroad Ministries, Intl (dba Hope Unlimited Church) in Beaumont and Banning, California in 2004.

Cathy is survived by Ron; her children (Brian and Jennifer Peterson, Eve and Ken Spicer, and Erika Cypert); eight grandchildren (Amanda Gutierrez, Josiah Spicer, Dylan Cypert, Caroline Peterson, Samuel Spicer, Bradley Cypert, Catherine Peterson, and Savannah Cypert); and four great grandchildren (Ezra, Zion, and Zaiden Gutierrez and Holly Spicer).

Cathy is preceded in death by her mother Hilde, son Bradley, and father- and mother-in-law Milton and Dorothy Peterson of New Richmond.

In leiu of flowers, please sponsor a child through Compassion International https://www.compassion.com/donate.htm in Cathy’s name. Without the help of international Christian organizations, such as Compassion, Cathy’s amazing journey may never have happened.

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