LaDonna Maxine Peterson

LaDonna Maxine (Owen) Peterson, 97, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 26th, 2026, at Sunset Home, Concordia, KS. LaDonna was born on July 12, 1929 on her parent’s farm near Miltonvale, KS. She was the eleventh, and last living, of 15 children born to the late Herschel “Tim” Owen and Jennie (Briggs) Owen.

Having completed only an 8th grade education, LaDonna moved to Concordia, KS where she worked as a waitress in one of the local restaurants. She met the love of her life while renting a room from her future husband’s parents. As the love story has been told, our Grandpa Peterson liked our mom and did a little match-making. LaDonna married Charles Adolph Peterson on August 29th, 1948. They lived and worked in Concordia throughout their marriage of 68 years. After LaDonna & Charles married, she worked at Fairmont Foods, Gibson’s Department Store, and Bogarts Grocery Store in the bakery until her retirement. They were of the generation to work hard, do things right the first time, spend your money wisely and enjoy life!

Together, LaDonna and Charles shared a healthy life filled with many adventures. In their early years, they enjoyed camping, fishing, boating and gardening. After their retirement, they enjoyed spending their winter months in Quartzsite, AZ until their health no longer allowed. Their goal was to visit all 50 of the United States of America. And, we have the slides and hundreds of pictures to verify their travels! They were members of The Drifting Clouds Campers Club, Pony Expresser’s Campers Club, Kansas Campers Club, and Campers & R.V.R’s Club. They also enjoyed driving their antique cars in parades in the surrounding communities. Needless to say, where you saw one – the other wasn’t far behind. They were well known for sitting side-by-side in their vehicle, like two love-struck teenagers, when riding around the town of Concordia.

From this union, three children were born: Linda Bogart (David) of Concordia, Clayton (Jayme) of Concordia, and Marcia (Joel) Cleavenger of Salina. They were blessed with eight grandchildren: Kenton Bogart (Geri), Jeff Bogart (Brandy) and Michelle Speake (Greg) all of Concordia; Vicki Truksa (Jessie) of Columbus, NE, Valerie Ristau (Shane) of Portland, OR, and Michael Peterson (Angie) of Concordia; Jennifer Bulleigh-Motl (Larry) of Murfreesboro, TN and Jordan Bulleigh of Salina, KS. They were even more blessed with 14 Great-grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren, and one great-great step grandchild.

LaDonna will be lovingly remembered by all her grandchildren (and even a few of her grandchildren’s friends) for her spunky nature and for the birthday cakes she made from scratch and designed according to each individual’s request. Her great-grandchildren as well as staff at Sunset Home knew to expect a long hug and a few kisses on the cheek when she pointed her finger and motioned for you to come near. The family takes great comfort knowing LaDonna is reunited with our dad, the love of her life, who she missed dearly the last 9 years of her life.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 3, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Nutter Mortuary, 116 E. 6th Street, Concordia, KS followed by interment at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Concordia, KS with Pastor Bob Burns officiating. Visitation will be on Sunday, August 2, 2026 from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. with the family present from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Reception will be held from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Jitters Coffee House, 221 W. 6th Street, Concordia, KS.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials are made to Scouting America, Troop #32, Concordia, KS; c/o Nutter Mortuary.

For online condolences, please visit nuttermortuary.com.