Melinda Elaine Petersen of Eureka passed away peacefully on September 2, 2025 from Glioblastoma. She was 67 years old.

Melinda was born to Charles and Kathlyn “Kay” Nichols in Fortuna on February 28, 1958. The middle child of five siblings, she attended Ridgewood & Cutten Elementary Schools, Winship Junior High School, and Eureka High School, graduating in 1976. She loved spending time with her siblings, Martin, Mark, Melanie & Kari, helping care for the family pets, and spending summers at Ruth Lake with her Auntie and Earl Dillon.

Melinda married the love of her life, Michael “Mike” Petersen, in 1978 in Eureka. They loved skiing, enjoying trips to Ashland, Mt. Bachelor and Tahoe. They had two daughters, Nicole in 1983 and Heather in 1986. The family enjoyed going on trips to visit family, camping, and engaging in outdoor activities. Melinda worked in a number of positions, including as an Aide at Pacific Convalescent Home when she was a teenager, a Secretary at the Federal Land Bank, an Appraisal Technician at Bank of America, and as a Housing Projects Manager at the City of Eureka. She also co-owned Eureka Overhead Door Company with Mike.

She was a wonderful wife and mother, doting on her family and attending various school and sporting events for her daughters. She always brought people together, frequently hosting joyful family and holiday gatherings. She was an incredible cook and had a number of favorite meals and desserts that she would make for loved ones, including her favorite, Angel Food Strawberry Shortcake. Her kind and gentle nature made her beloved by friends and colleagues alike, and she had many friends and family members that she kept in close contact with. She also loved animals and always had pets that she doted on, including dogs, cats and birds. She especially loved riding and caring for the family’s two horses, Holly & Rusty, passing her knowledge and passion for horses on to Nicole & Heather.

She loved to travel and enjoyed trips throughout the United States, as well as to Canada, England, Ireland, Mexico and Scotland. She enjoyed watching hockey and the family went to many San Jose Sharks games with the Humboldt Hockey Jocks group. She and Mike loved learning about new cultures and hosted three exchange students when Nicole and Heather were teenagers: Matilda from Sweden, Julia from Germany, and Jang from Thailand.

Melinda also experienced health challenges earlier in her life. She was diagnosed with kidney failure in her early 40s. After over a year of dialysis, she was blessed with the gift of a kidney donation from her younger sister, Melanie. She was always incredibly grateful to Melanie for her generosity.

After 25 years, Melinda retired from the City of Eureka in 2020. Mike retired shortly after and together they spent their free time camping and traveling in their RV, including two cross-country trips that took them from California to Yellowstone in Montana, to South Dakota where Mike grew up, to visit her sister, Kari, and her family in Kentucky, to Roswell, New Mexico, and to Mesa Verde in Colorado.

She was involved in community organizations as well, belonging to Humboldt Sponsors, the Humboldt County Historical Society, and the Society of Humboldt County Pioneers. Her favorite pastime, however, was spoiling and spending time with her grandchildren, Josiah, Daphne & Farrah. She also loved tending her beautiful yard and flower gardens, playing cards every Thursday, going to the casino, going to restaurants with family & friends, and watching movies at the theater. She was incredibly warm-hearted and kind, and was beloved by all who knew her.

Melinda was preceded in death by her grandparents, Leland & Athlyn Lawson, her brother, Martin Nichols, her father, Charles Nichols, and her daughter, Heather Petersen.

She is survived by her mother, Kathlyn “Kay” Nichols, her husband, Michael “Mike” Petersen, her daughter, Nicole Petersen-Log (Joseph), and her three grandchildren, Josiah Log, Daphne Log, and Farrah Petersen-Log. She is also survived by her siblings, Mark Nichols (Carol), Melanie Coupe (Robert), and Kari Bradley (Kenny), as well as nine nieces and nephews and their families.

The family wishes to thank the exceptional staff at St. Joseph Hospital and Hospice of Humboldt, as well as her best friend, Laurie Altizer, and sister-in-law Monica Caetano, for their love and support, especially following her cancer diagnosis.