Mary Elaine (Petersen) Flesher

Mary Elaine (Petersen) Flesher was born on August 24, 1937, in Kansas City, Missouri — the youngest of eight children born to Frank and Mina Petersen. She passed peacefully into the arms of her Savior on March 10, 2026, at the age of 88, surrounded by the family she loved so dearly. Mary came from remarkable roots. Her father Frank emigrated from Denmark, and it was her mother Mina who lovingly helped him learn to speak English. Mina herself carried a proud piece of Kansas City history — her great-grandfather, James Hyatt McGee, purchased the first parcel of land in Kansas City in 1828, and McGee Street bears his name to this day. Mina’s great-uncle, Milt McGee, served as the 12th Mayor of Kansas City. Mary carried this legacy quietly, as was her way. Mary spent her childhood years in Kansas City, Kansas, before making her way to Covina, California, where she raised her young children beneath the watchful gaze of the San Gabriel Mountains — a view she treasured. It was there she went to work at VitaPak, sorting citrus fruit along a conveyor belt. She once discovered a lemon shaped precisely like a little teapot — a small, perfect delight that she never forgot. She was a devoted mother; her children always wore pressed clothes, with the backs of their ears and necks scrubbed clean. She made sure to leave dimes out so her children could flag down the ice cream man for a popsicle on a warm afternoon. Much of Mary’s young life was also devoted to the tender care of her mother Mina, who was bedridden with multiple sclerosis. In this, as in all things, Mary gave of herself quietly and without complaint. In 1971, Mary returned to Kansas City, Kansas, where she began a career as a keypunch operator at Middlewest Motor Freight Bureau. Through hard work, determination, and a mind that never stopped growing — she pursued college coursework in her spare time, including studies in COBOL — she earned a promotion to Data Entry Supervisor, a role she held with distinction for more than twenty years. In 2000, she moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where she would spend the rest of her life. Faith was not merely a part of Mary’s life — it was the foundation of it. A longtime and devoted member of Peace Lutheran Church in Kansas City, Missouri, she loved Jesus deeply and spent her days reading His Word and in frequent prayer. She often remarked, with quiet certainty, that the Lord had always taken care of her. Mary wanted to share the Good News with others, and she did so with characteristic warmth — walking door to door with a greeting card introducing herself, her scriptures, and Rosie, her beloved rescue Golden Retriever, who trotted faithfully beside her. She also gave generously of her time as a volunteer with the Little Sisters of the Poor, visiting bed-bound nursing home residents who otherwise had no visitors — offering her presence as a gift to those the world had forgotten. Mary was sometimes feisty, but always kind, and she loved to laugh. She had a gift for calming a crying baby and an even greater gift for being a steady shoulder — her children knew they could always cry on it, and she never grew tired of offering it. Mary was adventurous and traveled to many countries with her family. She loved animals, especially dogs and cats, and often set out food and water for stray cats. She was an enthusiastic watcher of nature documentaries, a devoted follower of cooking shows, and took great pleasure in perusing recipes and occasionally trying something new in the kitchen. Every Christmas, without fail, she presented her family with tins of her homemade candy. She remembered every birthday and took special care to choose just the right gift for each person she loved. She mowed her own grass, did her own trimming, and lived an independent life on her own terms — but always had time to pick up the phone and call her family. Mary is survived by her older sister, her three children, five grandchildren,and twelve great-grandchildren — a family she loved with her whole heart and prayed for without ceasing. Visitation will be held on March 30, 2026, from 11:00 AM-12:30 PM with funeral services beginning at 12:30 PM at Peace Lutheran Church, 8240 Blue Ridge Blvd, Kansas City, MO. “...for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.” Zechariah 10:6 • KJV “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” John 10:28–30 • KJV Well done, good and faithful servant.

Tributes

Mary Elaine (Petersen) Flesher

August 24, 1937 - March 10, 2026