She was born in Canby, Minnesota; the fourth of six living children of Olaf N. and Mabel (Roan) Peterson.  She graduated from Canby Public High School, class of 1943.  She worked for General Mills Machine Division in Minneapolis, before enlisting in the Naval Women’s Auxiliary Volunteer Service (WAVES).  She attended “boot camp” at Hunter College, Bronx N.Y. and served at the Naval Air Station in Norfolk, VA.  On return to civilian life, she attended the Chicago College of Laboratory Technique on the GI Bill, obtaining her certificate as an X-ray technician in December of 1947.  On September 6, 1947 she was married to Gordon F. Lewis of Chicago, Illinois in the First English Lutheran church in Canby, where she was baptized and confirmed.  They had 3 boys and 3 girls.  The family was members of First Lutheran Church at 3400 W. Fullerton for 8 years before moving to Villa Park, Illinois in 1958 and transferring to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

          She worked for Continental Bank in Chicago, Automatic Electric in Northlake and for Frito Lay Inc. in Elmhurst, IL.

          As a lifelong Lutheran, she has been involved in almost all phases of church activities; Jr. choir, Luther League, Sunday school & bible school teacher, district secretary of the Lutheran Daughters of the Reformation (LDR), President of ALCW from 1978-79, member of St. Paul’s chancel choir.  In addition to her church work, she has been a Campfire Girl leader, active in PTA, worked as an election judge, and active in the THEOS (widow support group) following her husband’s death in 1981

          In 1989 she moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Fl, where she joined All Saints Lutheran Church in Tamarac.  She became a member of the Rainbow Team as an office volunteer; working every Wednesday while attending morning bible classes.  In April of 2007 she moved to St. Louis, MO, and has happily lived in a small house just a few blocks from her eldest son Mike and his wife Ruth.  She has enjoyed greatly, attending symphonies & plays with them while back “north”.  She lost her battle with cancer at home in St. Louis under the care of hospice, her daughter Diane and son Mike.

          She is survived by her sister Norma (Doug) Mayotte, Littleton CO; six children; Michael (Ruth) Lewis St. Louis, MO; Kenneth (Ann) Lewis Carol Stream, IL; Alan Lewis, Villa Park IL; Diane Lewis Lakeland, FL; Nancy (Paul [deceased]) Daum Phoenix, AZ; and Donna Lewis-Walker Seattle WA.; five grandchildren: Mark Lewis, David Lewis, Pamela Queizer, Tracy (Lewis) Jendruczek, and Kimberly Daum; five great-grandchildren: Antonia Carter, Malachi Mathis, Ava Marie Lewis, Alex Lewis, and Andrew Lewis.

          She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon and granddaughter Lisa Marie Queizer. Stella was cremated and will be buried next to her husband at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the VNA Hospice, 11440 Olive Blvd, Suite 200, St. Louis, MO 63141 or the Disabled American Veterans.

(Written by SEL and edited by mgl)