Ruth C. Petersen

Ruth C. Petersen, 94, of Bettendorf, formerly of Davenport, died Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at MercyOne-Genesis Medical Center, Davenport.

Funeral services and Mass of Christian Burial for Ruth will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 5, 2026, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, Davenport. Burial will be in the Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island. Visitation will be held Monday from 9 a.m. until Mass begins at church. Please join the family to pray the Rosary at 8:45 a.m. before visitation begins. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Our Lady of Victory Foundation or the American Cancer Society.

Ruth was born on April 11, 1932, to Tom and Marion (Wallace) Clark. She was the oldest of 11 children. She was a graduate of Maquoketa High School. Ruth was united in marriage to Clifton Petersen on December 11, 1948. They renewed their wedding vows for their 60th wedding anniversary at All Saints Catholic Church in Sanford, FL before his passing on March 25, 2013. They shared over 64 years together. They lived in Davenport, then moved to Otter Creek, where they farmed for five years. Clifton was soon drafted into the US Army – serving as a military police officer, stationed out of Fayetteville, North Carolina. Ruth began to work at Fleshman’s Style Department Store, working in the cashmere department. Upon Clifton’s discharge, they moved to Delman, Iowa. Ruth worked in Maquoketa, at JC Penney in the office as a bookkeeper. Later, they purchased a farm in Preston, Iowa. She was then offered a job at Mienerz Creamery as an office manager.

Ruth spent her evenings attending classes for accounting and real estate at Clinton Community College. The Petersons opened a mobile home park, Copper Creek Village. After six years at Mienerz Creamery she accepted a new job as a bookkeeper in Maquoketa, a federated program, the adult evening school, headed by James R. Gram, county department of schools. The closing of the program 5 years later brought Ruth an opportunity at Jackson State Bank as a real estate secretary. The following year, Ruth was offered the job as the Iowa State director for the Miss Iowa National Teen Pageants where she was for 13 years.

After spending 21 years in Preston, Iowa, the Petersen’s moved to Bellevue and Ruth began working at Jacilles Fashion Corner in Dubuque. She was able to fly twice a year to Atlanta to work at Atlanta Apparel Mart during the merchandise shows.

With the arrival of their grandchildren, they spent the next twenty years snow birding in Florida. They belonged to All Saints Catholic Church, Sanford, FL.

They moved to Davenport and joined Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church. Ruth joined the choir and the funeral choir, the Legion of Mary and volunteered at Genesis East in the spiritual department. Her most memorable times were visiting the homeless shelters – where she talked to so many remarkable people. After her husband’s death she moved to Moline to be near her son and daughter-in-law.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Pamela Petersen, and Brad (Karen) Petersen; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; siblings, Ed (Sue) Clark, Karen (Kenneth) Till, Kate (Jackie) Clark, and Margaret (Bob) Petersen; her constant companions, Walt Hilbert and Angie Fox.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her children, Clifton Jr, Sheila Susan, and Rodney Gene, and siblings, Sheila Clark, Sheridan Clark, Karl Clark, Art Clark, Pat Straub and Mick Clark. May they rest in peace.