Cindy was born July 22, 1975, in International Falls, MN, to Millicent and Dale Kriske. She was the youngest of seven children.

She attended public schools in International Falls, graduating from Falls Sr. High in 1993. After high school she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the College of St. Scholastica.

One of her high school projects created a life-long passion for her: genealogy. She was so good at researching records, other people asked for her help and advice.

In 1994, Cindy married Heath Peterson from Littlefork, MN. They raised two daughters while owning two grocery stores. They later divorced.

Her accounting skills helped her obtain a position in a health insurance company, where she was teleworking. When she wasn’t working, she loved photography, cooking, genealogy, collecting antiques and traveling. She had traveled to five countries and 32 states.

Cindy was preceded in death by her father, Dale Kriske, and her sister, Gail Nelsen. She is survived by her mother, Millicent Kriske, her daughters Johanna (Kyle) Sprouls and Lindsey (Ryan) Tuohy, her brothers Glen, Richard, and Ronald (Jane) Kriske, her sisters Charlotte Ackerley and Barb (Mark) Kriske-Hill, two uncles, one great-aunt, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Thank you to the Essentia Health staff for their care and compassion.

Cindy’s service was held June 7, 2025, at the Cremation Society of MN-Duluth with burial at Calvary Cemetery, Duluth.