Marcia Peterson

Marcia Jean Marie Peterson (Malik)

May 28th 1941 - January 6th, 2021

Born Wednesday May 28th, 1941 to Ralph and Martha Peterson of Mpls, Minnesota.

Our Mom

(Mark, Michaun, Monte, Mario, and Mia)

Fell asleep peacefully

tucked away in her bed

after spending the day before relaxing by the pool with her son Monte

enjoying the warm Colorado sunshine

She was one strong lady

She had her 38th operation on her tiny little body last year repairing a broken hip

Her first was a tonsillectomy at age 5

She is famous for saying “I am more plastic than flesh and bone” and

“I have more missing parts than an old Barbie doll”

As a child she loved roller skating, ice skating, sleepovers with her friends and sharing
a room with her little sister Mary Jo

who would crawl into bed with her every night

Her nickname as a child was marshmallow

she said it was because she was always such a softy

She played the accordion

even traveling to Soldier field, in Chicago, to play

and we have pictures to prove it

Marcia shared a very close relationship throughout her life with her siblings

Brother’s Ralph (nickname Tubby) and Ron

and sister Mary Jo

and with her cousins Susie and Joanie

Her life was all about her friends and family until she met our father

Michael Thomas Malik at a junior bowling banquet when she was 15

She was so in love

Her diary says she couldn't even study

but our Dad would help her with her homework

Mom graduated from North High School Minneapolis, MN in 1959

She married the love of her life at age 19 On October 15th, 1960

They bought their first home in Robbinsdale, Mn.

Dad was in the navy Reserves

Mom became pregnant

and gave birth to Mark On June, 1st 1963

They were living the dream

They loved being parents and wanted more children

Her Dr’s were concerned with Mom’s Health and becoming pregnant again

so

the adoption process began and on December, 13th, 1965

Michaun was brought home

Life was about to take another turn when Mom went in for surgery again and when
Mom woke up the surgeon told her she was pregnant

She thought she was dreaming at first

Mom’s words

“Our Miracle baby Monte was Born on February 8th, 1967”

Mom and Dad bought our family home in New Hope in 1968

So many wonderful celebrations shared with our cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents,
neighbors and friends

Christmas day was Mom’s favorite

Her Brother Ralph would always come over early to make their Dad’s (Grandpa Petey’s)
famous Tom and Jerry’s for our annual open house (noon to midnight)

so many wonderful memories to hold in our hearts of laughing, sledding and skating on
the backyard pond

Mom loved her work in the nurse’s office at Zachary Lane Elementary school in the
1970’s

and as a Personal clothing stylist in Dayton’s Oval Room (Ridgedale Mall) in the 1980’s

Dad’s career transferred them to Texas in 1986 which they loved

Mom enrolled in cosmetology school and became a nail artist

but the mountains were calling

Dad accepted another transfer to Colorado in 1988

They returned to their honeymoon paradise

Our parents loved spoiling their grandkids in both Colorado and Minnesota and spent as
much time with them as possible traveling back and forth

They loved children so much they decided to become foster parents for new born in-
fants in 1997

“he had us at first sight” Mom would always say

Our brother Mario was born on June 20th, 1998

the adoption process began for the second time

Thank God for little brother’s

he brings so much joy to our lives

Our sister Mia was born on August 22, 2000

the most beautiful thoughtful human

Holding all of our breath so deeply until the adoption became official

They are both angels and have made our family complete

its hard to imagine life without them

Our family is love in motion

rooted within our parents deep love for each other

We will miss you Mama

Survived by

Brother Ralph (Molly)

Brother in law Dan

Brother in law Gregory (Faye)

Brother in law Tom (Nancy)

son Mark (Megan)

Daughter Michaun

Son Monte (Stacey)

Son Mario

Daughter Mia (Kevin)

Grandchildren

Mathew

Pyper

Alexa

Noah

Dane

Caelan

William

Lina

Great Grandchild

Penelope

Close Cousins

Susie (Mike)

Joanie (Paul)

And many more (Peterson & Haleck)

Nieces/nephews

Christine

Kathleen

Greggie

Leslie

Heidi

Heather

Brian

Jenny

Jody

Tommy

Proceeded in death by

Husband Michael

Brother Ron (and partner Joe)

Sister Mary Jo

Cousin Billy

Memorials will be planned in Colorado and Minnesota this Spring
and Summer due to COVID

In Lieu of flowers

Please make donations to a cause or charity close to your heart in Marcia’s (MJ’s) Name

Mom would want to support you in creating a better world

...But hey if you want to send flowers...that’s cool too

Thoughts from Uncle Dan (aka D.R. Cruikshank)
Marcia (Marci) Peterson (Malik) May 28, 1941-Jan 6, 2021
A good friend asked me how I was doing after I informed her that my sister-in-
law passed away, in her sleep, yesterday.
"I am doing pretty good. I was just thinking about my sister-in-law. She was my
son Matt's 'grandmother' but, he was not the only child she adopted."
After Matt was born, Marci and Mike became surrogate grandparents for him,
Mary Jo and Marci's parents having passed by the time MJ was 18. Matt has
always called Marci-Grandma.
Marci and Mike (husband also deceased) adopted three other children:
Michaun, Mia and Mario. The last two were adopted when M&M were in their
late fifties. Originally they were foster parents and then, wanting full custody,
they adopted the children.
Mike passed when the kids were still young and Marci raised Mario and Mia on
her own. Those kids turned out pretty well -Mia is going to college and Mario is
working-highly respected by his co-workers.
Both kids had mother's who were unable to raise the children and gave the kids
up to the foster home. Getting M&M for parents was a godsend.
Marci was one tough lady, having lived through several mishaps the last several
years, resulting in dozens of operations.
Rest in peace, Marci. Say Hi to Mary Jo for me.