Peterson, Helen L.
Passed away at age 92 on February 22, 2026, with family by her side. Helen was born March 9, 1933, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the oldest daughter of John and Eileen Frederick. Helen was the loving wife of Don for more than 62 years, who predeceased her in 2016. She also was preceded in passing by her sister Joyce (Tom) Christensen.
Helen attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned a degree in accounting in 1955 and was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She became a CPA and worked for many years at Conley McDonald and Arthur Young, at a time when the profession was heavily dominated by men. She especially enjoyed the complexities of the tax code and working with her nonprofit clients.
Helen loved playing tennis and golf. She was a long-time member of Blue Mound Golf & Country Club, and also Western Racquet Club where she was a member of the Board of Directors and its first female President. Helen was active in numerous groups and organizations, including AAUW, the Gamma Phi Beta alumni chapter, Wauwatosa Curling Club, a neighborhood gourmet group, and several book clubs and bridge groups. She was so sociable that Don told her “no more than one party or event per weekend!” She enjoyed reading and traveling all over the world with Don and organizing annual vacations with family. Helen grew prize-winning roses and loved tending to her garden. She was sharp-witted and always enjoyed a good joke or pun. Helen was famous for her direct style of communication that could quickly relieve family, friends, or acquaintances from the burden of wondering about her thoughts on an issue.
Helen is survived by her four loving children: John (Jill) Peterson, Karen Ray, David (Anne) Peterson, and Kathryn (Mark) Kindler. She is further survived by eleven grandchildren: Anne, Michael (Betsy), and Madeline Peterson; David (Lindsey), and Kevin (Amanda) Ray; John (Becca), Eileen, and Elizabeth Peterson; and Thomas, Benjamin, and Andrew Kindler, as well as seven great-grandchildren, all of whom will cherish her memory.
Visitation will be at Krause Funeral Home, 21600 West Capitol Drive, Brookfield, Wisconsin from 2:00 PM – 3:45 PM. Funeral Service at 4:00 PM on Friday, March 27, 2026 with a Reception at Krause immediately following.
Inspired by the scholarship Helen’s beloved Don received at the UW Law School, when he passed Helen established a scholarship fund to support future law students. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Donald R. Peterson Scholarship Fund at the University of Wisconsin Foundation, https://secure.supportuw.org/give/ and enter “Donald R. Peterson Scholarship Fund.”
