Jane Marie (Mattingly) Peterson, 73, was born April 7,1950 in Lindsborg to Hubert and Marlys (Spongberg) Mattingly. She passed away, unexpectedly, November 29, 2023. She attended Lindsborg Rural High School. She also had an identical twin sister, Joan Lindfors, who was born several hours later on April 8th. Together they were known as the Mattingly twins. She was very active with school events, sports, cheer leading, music and was home coming queen her senior year. She was also a Lindsborg Swedish Dancer throughout her high school years. While still in High School, she started on what would become her beloved profession: she volunteered as a “Candy Striper” at the local hospital.
She graduated from Lindsborg in 1968 and headed off to the University of Kansas. She was a Frosh Hawk her freshman year and was a Devout Jayhawk. She then attended Stormont Vail Regional Medical Center in Topeka, KS. While there, she worked in the hospital as to become a certified nurse. She was a Clinical Nurse, Staff Nurse and Team Leader. From there, her career in medicine endured for the next 40 plus years. Her numerous accomplishments touched many people.
The list is long: Mother-Infant Consultant, Pediatric Behavioral Consultant, Clinical Preceptor for KWU students, Affiliated Faculty Appointment Fort Hays State, Pediatric Staff Nurse SRHC (Salina), Nursing Care Coordinator/Supervisor St. Johns Hospital (Salina). The next 10 years she touched many children’s lives as the senior nurse in Dr. Rosales’s Practice at Mowrey Clinic. It was during this period she earned her Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner and Master’s Degree from the University of Kansas. It was then she decided to be a Pioneer: she opened the FIRST Independent ARNP Pediatric Clinic in Salina. She made it “kid friendly” with exam rooms that had Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh on the walls and a large exam table in one of the rooms that was a lion (the kids really love that room). The children loved it and were super comfortable going to the “Doctors Office”. It was innovating and successful but was ahead of the times.
She returned to school again and earned her second Master’s Degree from Wichita State in adolescent behavioral psychology. She worked for Prairie View, Inc. in Salina and McPherson and St. Francis Boy’s Home, Salina. She was recruited by Gary Co. Emergency Dept. as an ARNP-CNS/MSN. She finally retired due to severe back issues, but had to give it one more shot, so she filled the position to start a Medical Assistant program at Salina Area Technical College. She ended her long career three years later with the MA program on solid ground for the future.
While doing all the above she managed to give birth to and raise three children, Andrew, Steven and Hannah. In 1993 she married her husband of 30 years, Hal Peterson and acquired two more children, Venessa and Jessica. She is survived by her husband Hal of Lindsborg; three children, Andy Kelley (Dana) of Lone Tree, CO, Steve Kelley (Robyn Ziolkowski) of Vero Beach, FL, and Hannah Kelley of Wichita; two step-daughters, Venessa Madden (Paul) of Leawood, and Jessica Peterson (Jason Daniels) of Oskaloosa; eight grandchildren she loved so much; Lena, Elise, Liv, Lexi all of Kansas City, Siera of Kiowa, CO, Aiden of Lone Tree, Jayden of Wichita, and Dante of Vero Beach. Also surviving are sisters, Betty Amos (Leland Nelson) of Lindsborg, Joan Lindfors (Allan) of Marquette, Connie Davis of Lady Lake, FL; and brother, Matt Mattingly of Palmetto, FL.
In retirement Jane loved her country home. Planting flowers, feeding the wildlife, and decorating it spectacularly for holidays, especially Christmas. She was a Rock Star wife and mother. Always Compassionate, Kind, Caring, Loving, Fun and ALWAYS had that big beautiful SMILE.
Visitation will be from 9:30 – 11 a.m. Saturday, December 9, 2023 with a funeral service beginning at 11 a.m. all at Ryan Mortuary, Salina. Private graveside services will take place in Elmwood Cemetery, Lindsborg at a later date.
The service will be live webcast at https://livewebcastevents.com/jane.
Memorials to Lindsborg Hospital Auxiliary or Salina St. Francis Ministries Foster Care.