Ethel L. Peterson, 96, passed away on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at Coffey County Hospital, Burlington, KS.

Ethel was born October 1, 1924 in Woodson County, near Yates Center, KS to Arthur F. and Caroline May (Pantle) Starkebaum. Ethel graduated from Vernon High School in 1943 and attended Emporia State University to obtain her teaching certificate. On November 20, 1945 she married Homer E. Peterson in Yates Center, KS while he was home on leave from the U.S. Navy. They were blessed with four children, Donald, Lyle, Carol and Janice.

After Homer was discharged from the U.S. Navy they moved to a farm East of Vernon, KS where they farmed and operated a dairy. They sold the dairy cattle in 1979 and started traveling across the United States and Canada. The farm was sold in 1994 and they moved to LeRoy, KS. Homer and Ethel celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1995. Homer Passed away on September 26th, 1997. Ethel remained in their home until October 2017, then moved to Life Care Center in Burlington, KS at the age of 93.

Ethel was a 60 plus year member of the order of the Eastern Star, Social Order of the Beauceant, VFW Auxiliary, and American Legion Auxiliary. Ethel held her first office in the Eastern Star in 1957 and continued as long as her health allowed. She was appointed Grand Representative of Minnesota in Kansas in 1978, District Aid in 1982 and GCM - Teller in 1986. Ethel & Homer traveled with friends to many of these events, always looking forward to where they could visit next.

Ethel loved to watch KU Basketball, raise African violets, cook and tend her outdoor flowers. Her sister-in-law Hellen Starkebaum shared her peanut butter pie recipe with her, that was a keeper recipe. Ethel always had two to three pies in the freezer to share with family and friends when they stopped to visit. Ethel's kind and giving spirt will be deeply missed.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Homer, infant son Donald; Sisters, Mildred Younkin and Donna Beckmon; Bothers, Harold, John and Jack Starkebaum, and son-in-law David Turner.

Ethel is survived by her son Lyle and wife Geney Peterson, LeRoy, KS; Daughters, Carol and husband Larry Crawford, Iola, KS and Janice Turner, Hutchinson, KS; Sister, Lucille Logan, N Salt Lake, UT; Brothers, Lewis, Cartersville, GA, Ralph, Holton, KS and Kenny, LeRoy, KS; Granddaughters, Jessica Griffith and husband Mike, Kasey Raymer and husband Marc; Great Granddaughters, Jalyn Griffith and Aryn Raymer, and Great Grandson, Lane Griffith, all of Burlington, KS.

Ethel will lie in state from 2 - 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Private family funeral service will be held at 10 am on Saturday, February 27, 2021 at Jones Funeral Home, Burlington. Burial will follow at the Yates Center Cemetery.

The funeral will be streamed live and may be viewed via this link https://www.facebook.com/jonesfuneralhomeburlingtonks

Memorial contributions can be made to the White Rose Chapter #297 Order of the Eastern Star, or the Burlington United Methodist Church, and may be sent in care of Jones Funeral Home, PO Box 277, Burlington, KS 66839.