June Lorraine Peters Hurtt

June Lorraine Peters Hurtt passed peacefully under the Florida sun on September 4, 2025, at the well-preserved age of 101. A great life lived on her own terms! June was born June 28, 1924, in Newton, Iowa, to Verle and Helena Peters. For a girl who grew up in the Mershon Mansion, she preferred her tomboy ways. She worked her teenage years sexing chickens at Peters Hatchery.

June was united in marriage to John Hurtt on July 30, 1943, in San Luis Obispo, CA just before John shipped out to WWII. In their 42 years of marriage, they enjoyed good ‘ole country music and dancing at the Moose Lodge every Saturday night.

After B&O Service Sales, she worked winters at The Vernon Company. Summers were spent lounging by her pool, which was a local hangout for family and friends. After retirement, winters were spent in Florida shelling on Honeymoon Island. Summers were dedicated to Rush Lake, Minnesota.

She could tell when the clock struck 10am, because she was ready for a beer. Later in the day she preferred her whiskey. Still, she could recite the alphabet backwards and speak phrases in German. She was the founding member of “4:00 Double-Bubble” which took place at whatever residence June was occupying at the time – Newton, Florida, or the cabin in Minnesota. And she was the last surviving member of the Newton High School Class of 1942.

June can be remembered gardening shoeless in shorts and a tube top and canning everything she grew. For those that knew her best, you’ll recognize her famous saying: “From the day that you’re born ‘til you ride in a hearse, things are never so bad that they couldn’t be worse.” This was on a sign above June’s grandfather’s desk in Peters Hatchery.

She is survived by her daughters Roxie (Larry) Ashby and Penny (Robbie) Rix; grandchildren Johnna (Mark) Donahue and Brett (Carrie) Rix; great-grandchildren Charlotte Donahue, Hunter Versteegh, Halli Versteegh, Liam and Savannah Rix, and Nicolette Rix; and great-great-grandchildren Hollis and Hayes Versteegh and Braxton Becker.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband John Hurtt in 1985, and grandsons Jordy Versteegh and Brad Rix.

She had red hair until the day she died. It’s 4:00 somewhere…drink a beer in honor of June.