Alice Cora Peterson

Alice Cora Peterson was born September 5, 1924, in Craig, Nebraska, to R.P. “Parke” and Annie (Wilcox) Loftis. She grew up in Nebraska with a sister and a brother.  Alice graduated high school at the age of 16 and went on to attend Dana College in Blair, Nebraska for one year. One day Alice was walking in town with a friend when one of the boys she went to high school with honked his horn at them, trying to get Alice’s attention. Although they attended school together, he lived one town over and it was not until this moment that Leslie “LeRoy” Peterson entered her radar. LeRoy and Alice began spending time together, ended up falling in love, and were married on December 16, 1944, in Takamah, Nebraska. LeRoy was in the Army during the Japanese occupation following World War II, and while home on leave, Alice gave birth to their first child, a daughter they named Karen Lee. Karen died shortly after birth and it was a devastating loss to the young couple, especially since LeRoy had to report back to duty before Alice was even released from the hospital. Once LeRoy was honorably discharged from his military service, the couple settled into married life and began a family together. LeRoy was a farmer and Alice took care of the home and children. In 1954, the family moved to Columbia Falls, Montana, where LeRoy took work at saw mills and an aluminum plant. In 1975, the family moved again, this time to Oregon to be near their daughter that attended college at what is now Corban University. LeRoy was glad to leave the snow behind and they would make Oregon their home for the remainder of their time in this life. Alice was a wonderful homemaker and a loving mother and wife. She cooked delicious meals, sewed clothing for the girls, kept a neat and tidy home, and was always there for her kids. But she was so much more than “just a homemaker”.  She was always involved in her community and each church that the family attended.   Alice was well known for her love of music and her incredible talent on the piano and organ.  She was often asked by her church or a local funeral home to play at services.  At home LeRoy loved nothing more than to sit and listen to her play the piano. The family would gather in the evenings around the piano and sing hymns together. Alice gave piano lessons to each of her children and grandchildren, passing on her love of music that would be continued for generations on. One of her grandsons said that the greatest gift she gave him was his love of music. LeRoy and Alice created a beautiful legacy by their constant example to their family of what it means to love unconditionally and support each other through all of life’s moments, good or bad. Their family has always been extremely close, both in relationship and in distance. When LeRoy and Alice moved to Salem, all of their children eventually followed and the entire extended family has enjoyed many years of living close and sharing holidays, family celebrations, and just day to day life together. Alice summed up her life and legacy in the final words she spoke to her granddaughter, “It is good.” LeRoy and Alice were married for 66 years at the time of his passing in 2011, and Alice remained his bride until she entered into eternal glory. She was preceded in death by her parents, beloved husband, and infant daughter Karen Lee. Alice is survived by her children Janice (Mike), Kathy (Asa), and Susan; grandchildren  Bobbi (Mark), Rick (Olga), Becky, Shelly (Kermit), Rob (Sarah), Ally (Brent) and Ryan (Kaylene); 20 great-grandchildren; and 6 great-great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations can be make in Alice's memory to Bristol Hospice in honor of the amazing care they provided to Alice, or to the local hospice of your choice.