Kathleen “Kay” “Kathy” Petersen, 85, San Juan Capistrano, California, and formerly of Egeland, North Dakota, died peacefully on February 16, 2025 under the care of hospice at her home.
Kathleen Louise Thomas was born on July 2, 1939 in Cando, North Dakota to William and Dorothy (Odermann) Thomas. She was reared on the family farm near Egeland in Towner County, North Dakota. Kay graduated from Egeland High School in 1957 and continued her education at Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA where she earned an Associates Degree prior to graduating from Cal State University-Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics. She began her career in education in El Monte, CA, in 1964 and taught for ten years. Later, she was a substitute teacher at local schools in Orange County. She spent a summer in Mexico City for continued education and later spent a year in Germany where she studied the German language to enrich her education.
After leaving Germany, she visited Alaska where she met her future husband, Ray Petersen. They were married on July 1, 1972 in South Pasadena, California. Following their marriage, Ray’s employment took them to Moscow, Idaho; Fairbanks and Circle Hot Springs, Alaska. They wintered in San Juan Capistrano which became their family home, where they raised their beloved son, Ian. In later years, she and Ray purchased acreage in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana where they spent summers while Ray worked on a water reclamation project. Ray died on September 17, 2013.
Kay was an active member of Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano where she was a member of the church choir, conducted tours of The Mission and served as a guide and historian to visitors. She was an active member of the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and President of her home owners association. Kay was very civic minded and often attended city informational meetings because of her concern for municipal issues. She enjoyed traveling, especially her trips throughout Europe, camping, and visiting her sisters at their lake homes during summer months in North Dakota. Being very fond of horses, she and Ray traveled to the National Finals Rodeo and looked forward every year to the Swallows Festival in San Juan Capistrano.
Kay’s loving family includes her siblings: Marlene McEntee of Arcadia, CA; Patricia (LaVerne) Hight of Minot, ND; Mary Kranig of Elk Grove Village, IL; Betty (Bob) Angus of Lakeville, MN; Peggy Gessner of Lake Upsilon, ND and several nieces, including Jacqueline (Hight) Thomas of Minot, Nicole (Gessner) Arnold of Minot, Stephani (Gessner) Bertsch of Rolla, ND; nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ray; son, Ian; siblings: Terri Andresen; William and Richard Thomas; niece: Lindsay Kranig; nephews: Jason Thomas and Jay Hight; brothers-in-law: Richard McEntee, Jerry Andresen, Ken Kranig and Stoney Gessner.
Mass of Christian Burial: 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 20, 2025 at Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano located at 31520 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Visitation at Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano will be 30 minutes prior to the Mass of Christian Burial.
Burial will be in the Spring, 2025 in the Catholic Section of the Cando Cemetery in Cando, North Dakota.
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