---

On January 13, 2024, Heaven gained another beautiful and kind angel, who will be missed dearly. Although her life on earth was short, her positive impact will remain.

Tara M. Peterson, age 50, of Center City, Minnesota passed away on January 13, 2024. She was born on September 18, 1973 in Cloquet, Minnesota to parents Franklin and Patsy (Knight) Newell. She lived in Cloquet for seven years before moving to Vadnais Heights, Minnesota.

Tara graduated from White Bear Lake High School in 1992 and went on to attend Hamline University from 1992-1996 where she graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology.

In the winter of 1997, she met the love of her life, Kevin Peterson, on a blind date at a Minnesota Timberwolves game. They would go on to marry on September 11, 1999 and build a house in Center City, Minnesota where they would have two  beautiful daughters: Kaitlyn and Amber. The house was filled with lots of love, laughs, family, and friends.

Tara worked as a commercial Insurance Underwriter for State Farm for eight  years, then worked for Stein Insurance Agency for 15 years. She loved hunting, fishing, scrapbooking, gardening, canning, The North Shore, walking on the beach, traveling, family time, water sports, the girls dance and soccer teams.

Tara was diagnosed with stage three melanoma in 2018 and stayed strong with the love and support of her husband, girls, friends, and family.

Throughout her life she remained a devout wife, mother, and friend to many. Tara will be forever in our hearts, and always on our minds.

She is preceded in death by her great grandparents, Mabel Conlon, Louis and Martha Mollenhauer; grandparents, Raymond Knight, June Peltier, Richard and Audrey Peterson; uncle and godfather Gary Knight; aunts, Roxanne Bisel and Nancy Kittle; cousin Jeremy Peltier; and first dog Tanner.

Tara is survived by her husband Kevin; daughters, Kaitlyn (Carter) and Amber; parents, Franklin and Patsy Newell; brothers, Matt (Ann) Newell and Greg Newell; grandmother Emogene Knight; mother-in-law Pam (Lynn) Longnecker; father-in-law Bryan (Joyce) Peterson; half Sister Elizabeth Lindeke; brother-in-law Eddie (Lyanne) Peterson; Corey, Allison, Mandy (Brian); and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, January 18, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Almelund, Minnesota. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church (10 a.m.). Following the service, interment will take place at Hillside Cemetery in Center City, Minnesota. Condolences may be expressed online at www. grandstrandfh.com. Arrangements by Grandstrand Funeral Home in Lindstrom, Minnesota.

---