Melissa “Missi” Guillemette-Peterson, 47, of Red Lake Falls passed away on Thursday, January 16, 2020 at Riverview Hospital in Crookston, MN with her loving family at her side.
The service to celebrate Missi’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at Bethany Lutheran Church in R
ed Lake Falls, MN with Rev. Gary Graff officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Friday, January 24, 2020 at Bethany Lutheran Church and will also be held one hour prior to the service on Saturday.
Melissa Sue Guillemette was born March 24, 1972 in Thief River Falls, MN the daughter of Robert and Victoria (Efteland) Guillemette. She was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church in Red Lake Falls, MN. Missi attended school in Red Lake Falls graduating from Lafayette High School with the class of 1991. Following high school, Missi attended Northland Community College in Thief River Falls graduating in 1993 with an Associate of Arts Degree. She then attended Bemidji State University graduating in 1996 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood Development.
While working at BSU as a dispatcher in Security & Safety, Missi met the love of her life Mark Peterson and the couple married on June 21, 1997. They made their home in Thief River Falls for a short time before settling in Red Lake Falls in 1998. To this union three children were born, Ethan, Mariah and Mykayla. Early years Missi worked for a short time at K-mart and Gary’s Bakery.
With her teaching career, Missi was very compassionate and energetic in trying to find ways to connect with her students. She loved her elementary school co-workers. Missi worked as an ECFE Teacher at J.A. Hughes Elementary; St. Bernard’s Catholic School and also enjoyed teaching English to the migrant students near Warren, MN. Along with her sister Bobbi, Missi has done babysitting for many families in the Red Lake Falls community where they have formed lasting relationships.
She was a true people person and loved to visit with family, friends or strangers alike. Missi loved traveling throughout the United States with her loving family, reading, studying the Bible, listening to audiobooks, watching movies and cooking. In April of 2011, Missi was diagnosed with leukemia and that fall received a stem-cell transplant which allowed her the gift of nine more years to be with her family, friends and community whom she dearly loved. Throughout her illness, she remained strong and took comfort that her life was in God’s hands.
Missi was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Red Lake Falls.
Loving survivors include husband, Mark; children, Ethan, Mariah and Mykayla; parents, Robert and Victoria Guillemette; siblings, Roberta “Bobbi” (Jason) Aakhus and Nathan Guillemette all of Red Lake Falls; Richard and Paula Peterson of Roseau, MN; sister-in-law, Amber (Jeff) Pribyl of Fridley, MN; nieces & nephews, Natalie, Allison, Johnmark and Gavin; and many other relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her grandparents; and uncle, Myles Jeffry Efteland.
Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com
