Nagene Marit Peterson

Nagene Marit Peterson, formerly Nagene Goddard, age 82, of Hastings, passed away on January 17, 2026, at home, in the loving company of family.

Nagene was born on February 23, 1943 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to Warren and Hulda (Dahlberg) Goddard. She grew up in Hastings, where she lived a vibrant childhood in the country with her family, and formed many close connections in high school that deepened over the years and were sustained throughout her life.

After graduating from Hastings High School, Nagene went to college in Rockford, Illinois and the University of Minnesota. Early in her career, she worked at the UNIVAC division of Sperry Rand in Saint Paul as an executive assistant before pursuing a position as a buyer, but her manager said he would never hire a woman. Once affirmative action passed, Nagene was recruited for the buyer position and went on to be a successful saleswoman. She continued her electronics sales career at Gopher Electronics. Later in life she worked at Intek Plastics in Hastings, Minnesota and Treasure Island Resort and Casino in Welch, Minnesota, forming lasting connections at each stage.

Nagene met her husband, Chesley Peterson (1933-2016) in Saint Paul, Minnesota while he was fitting her for contact lenses. Nagene and Chesley married on September 9, 1967, building a life together in Saint Paul and Hastings, Minnesota. She had two sons, Jeffrey Peterson, born in 1973, and Jonathon Peterson, born in 1979. She provided them with a beautiful childhood, swimming, hiking, collecting stones and shells, enjoying books, nature, travel, music, and movies together.

Nagene formed and sustained many communities over her life, creating space for others’ needs. She had a remarkable memory for people’s stories. She had close networks of friends who explored their faith together, made art together, and watched out for one another. Nagene cared for those who society ignored, and showed grace and understanding for everyone she met. She was close with her high school class, helping to coordinate reunions and gatherings of “The Ladies Who Lunch”. She started a daily email in 2020 to reach out to classmates, family, and others connecting us during the isolation of the pandemic.

Nagene was a photographer, artist, and designer who in addition to creating many beautiful drawings and photographs of birds and nature, designed materials for class reunions, birthdays, and celebrations. She loved planning and planting her garden, filling it with color, just as she filled her lens and pages with color. She celebrated the promise of the rainbow, and compared life to an ever shifting kaleidoscope filled with a rich diversity of experience and vibrance that changed with every turn of the lens.

Nagene led a life of the mind and spirit. She was an avid reader and a student of history and scripture, and contemplated the big questions. She enjoyed conversations about weighty and meaningful ideas, but was forever grounded in the present. She was a practical woman whose great strength was her optimism, and her belief that through God's grace, anything was possible if one took the first step.

Nagene had a joy for life. She played clarinet in family jam sessions as a child and raced cars as a young woman. She sang with all her heart, including a beautiful rendition of “A Bushel and a Peck” in harmony with her husband, Chesley. She loved to travel and enjoyed meaningful trips exploring the American West with her family and friends. Life for her was filled with color and song.

Nagene is survived by her loving sons, Jonathon Peterson of Hastings, Minnesota, and Jeffrey Peterson of Saint Paul, Minnesota, her daughter-in-law, MC Hyland of Saint Paul, Minnesota, her grandson Edward Luke Cook of West Saint Paul, Minnesota, her Sister-in Law, Mary Goddard and Nephew, Mark Goddard, of Pine Grove, California, and many nieces, nephews, relatives and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Chesley Peterson, her brother, Warren Goddard, and her parents, Warren and Hulda (Dahlberg) Goddard, as well as many great aunts and uncles who maintained close ties throughout their lives.

Visitation will be held at Resurrection United Methodist Church in Hastings, Minnesota on Friday, February 6 at 10:00 a.m., with services to follow at 11:00 a.m. A celebration of life will follow at Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Memorial gifts can be made in Nagene’s name to Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, and the Resurrection United Methodist Church in Hastings, Minnesota.

If you ever find yourself outside, enjoying a sunset or birds and butterflies amongst the flowers, listening closely to a favorite song, or contemplating the great kaleidoscope of god’s creation, please take a moment to think of Nagene and enjoy the beauty of life, because there could be no greater tribute to her memory.