RAGBRAI LII July 19 - 26, 2025

Our Thoughts are with the Family of Lois Peterson

  • 26 November, 2012
  • Jared

Lois Peterson passed away on November 21.  She spent over 20 years at the Des Moines Register and loved working with RAGBRAI during the early years of the event.  She will be missed by the RAGBRAI Family.  Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.

From Chuck Offenburger, Former RAGBRAI Host:

 A note to thousands of RAGBRAI riders who were treated so nicely years ago by RAGBRAI secretary Lois Peterson: She died at 74 years old on Nov. 21. Visitation is this afternoon 4-6 p.m. at Brooks Funeral Care in the Des Moines suburb of Clive; funeral is there at 1 p.m. Monday. Details are in her obituary in the Sunday Des Moines Register at . She worked 20 years at the Register, and was the RAGBRAI secretary from the late 1970s well into the ’90s. She was also one of the original “Route Markin’ Mamas,” who posted the arrows along RAGBRAI’s way. Terrific person!

Lois F. Peterson
Des Moines

Lois was born in a small farm house on March 1, 1938, to parents, Carl and Velma (Gilbert) Lenz, the second of twelve siblings. She shared her birthday with her twin sister, Lorraine D. VanVark. Lois attended grade school at Cylinder, IA, and graduated from Rodman High School.

She is survived by her children, Jacqueline L. Polite and Ret. Chief Petty Officer David A. Peterson; grandchildren, Angela (Brad) Bosworth-Cowman, Luke (Molly) Peterson, Jessica and Morgan Peterson; great-grandchildren, Sierra, Emmilyne and Maggie Bosworth; siblings, Lorraine VanVark, Judith (Mike) Tisdale, Susan E. Burch, Mary L. Bruhn, Ret. Major Gary (Giesla) Lenz, Wayne (Janice) Lenz and Robert (Peggy) Lenz and as well as family friend, Kevin Bosworth.

Lois worked at Heck Ross Clothiers for many years and developed friendships with customers and co-workers. She spent over 20 years at the Des Moines Register and loved working as the coordinator for RAGBRAI. She has many treasures given to her from participants of the ride and her family loved to hear stories from her years spent working on the ride. In addition to her work on RAGBRAI, she coordinated the spelling bee, was a proof reader and worked in public relations.

Lois’s quirky sense of humor was a delight to her friends and family. She had talents in sewing, designing, beading, and her joy was her flower gardens. Lois supplied many bouquets for the desks at the Register but her main love was her children and her grandchildren.

Lois, 74, passed away November 21, 2012. Visitation will be Sunday, November 25 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Brooks Funeral Care, 7975 University Blvd., in Clive. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m., Monday, November 26 at the funeral home with burial to follow at Highland Memory Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, any gifts may be directed to the American Stroke Association .

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