Mary Jane Peterson Dakken

Mary Jane (Peterson) Dakken, 74, Forest City, passed away peacefully, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016 at the Hancock Memorial Hospital, Britt. Private family services will be held at the funeral home. Upon her wishes, she was cremated and there will be no visitation. Any memorials received we would like directed to Hospice of North Iowa. Mary was born June 24, 1941 in Lake Mills, the daughter of Vernon and Bernice (Swenson) Peterson.She was raised in Lake Mills, where she has many relatives yet and where she met the love of her life, David—her high school sweetheart.  
She was married to David Ryan Dakken on June 21, 1959 at Salem Lutheran Church, Lake Mills, and to this union, three children—Rhonda, Todd and Timothy—were born.
Mary and her family were proud when John K. Hanson called Mary “the face of Winnebago” as she was the receptionist for general offices for many years.
Mary was a Master Gardner and very involved with Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City. She was active in two bridge clubs with dear lifelong friends. Mary was a proud mom, grandmother and great grandmother.
Mary’s fun loving personality and sense of humor will be dearly missed by her family and friends.
Mary was fortunate to spend many of her final days at home surrounded by her family.
Mary is survived by her husband, David, Forest City; children: Rhonda Dakken Clark and husband, Timothy R. Clark, Ventura and their children, Sarah (Dakken) Johnson, Iowa City, and MacKenzie Russell Clark, Philadelphia Penn.; Todd David Dakken and his wife, Kimberly J. (Hanson) Dakken, Forest City, and their children, Katie (Matt) Hardy, Perry, Megan (Grant) Fjetland, West Des Moines, Joe P. Dakken and special friend, Dani Nygard, Ames; Timothy Jon Dakken and his wife, Kim A. (Haugen) Dakken, Forest City, and their son, Joshua Ryan Dakken, Iowa City;  great-grandchildren: Ella and Kellen Hardy, and Will and Mila Fjetland; two sisters: Verna Mae Helgeson, Lake Mills; and Joan Hall and her husband, Ron, Rochester, Minn.; brother-in-law, Dana Dakken; sister-in-law, Doris Peterson; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Vernon and Bernice Peterson, Lake Mills; sister, Delores Porter and her husband, Woody, and their daughter, Ann Marie; and brother-in-law, Kurtis Helgeson, and his son, Paul.