Michelle M. Peterson

Michelle M. Peterson, age 56, of Wyoming, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, surrounded by family, following a brief but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Born on December 27, 1968, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Michelle was the daughter of Michael and Patricia (Webb) Reynolds. She graduated from Centennial High School and continued her education at the University of Minnesota, laying the foundation for a remarkable career in the medical device industry.

Michelle was a visionary professional who made meaningful contributions to several start-up companies, including Microvena Corporation and Car Tika Medical, before bringing her expertise to Boston Scientific and Medtronic. Her innovative work helped develop life-saving technologies, including artificial heart components and the "Angel Wings" device for pediatric heart patients—achievements that speak to her deep compassion and brilliance.

In recent years, Michelle found her calling as a resident care technician with the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. These were among the most fulfilling years of her life, as she gave back to the recovery community with unmatched empathy and care. She loved helping patients along their journey, always offering warmth and support.

Michelle met the love of her life, Duane Peterson. After many years together, they married on July 6, 2022. The couple made their home on the peaceful shore of Comfort Lake, where Michelle enjoyed pontoon rides, lake floats, and simply being outdoors. Travel was another joy they shared, including a memorable trip down South this past winter.

Family was everything to Michelle. She cherished time with her children and absolutely adored her grandchildren, who brought light and joy into her life. She also had a passion for television crime dramas, with favorites like CSI and Blue Bloods, and she loved swapping show recommendations with friends and family.

To know Michelle was to know a true original—a “unicorn” in every sense: vibrant, unique, full of energy, and fiercely loving. She was a spark plug whose presence lit up every room, and her legacy lives on in the many lives she touched.

Michelle is preceded in death by her father, Michael Reynolds; stepfather, Richard LaForte; and brother, Kelly Reynolds. She is survived by her loving husband, Duane Peterson; her children, Kelly (Ally) Reynolds, Steven (Rose Kurys) Young, and Sydney Peterson; her adored grandchildren, Karlee Schultz, Austin Schultz, Bridget Volson, Mikenzie Reynolds, and John Reynolds; her mother, Patricia LaForte; her brother, Michael Reynolds; and many other beloved family members and friends.

A celebration of Michelle’s life will be held at a later date.

She was one of a kind, and she will be deeply missed.