Eugene George Petersen

Eugene George Petersen

OGDEN a€" Eugene George Petersen passed away Wednesday, August 26, 2009, at Manor Care Nursing Center in South Ogden, after a valiant and courageous struggle with leukemia.

He was born July 16, 1917 in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, the son of Louis A. and Emily Anderson Petersen. At the age of six, his father, a well-known school administrator, moved his family to Logan, Utah, to become Superintendent of Logan City Schools. After the death of his Grandfather Petersen, his Grandmother wanted Eugene to come to Mt. Pleasant to live with her where he attended seventh and eighth grades. She tenderly watched over him, and he dearly loved her and her Danish cooking. He then moved back with his family in Logan and enjoyed family life there until 1933 when his Father became seriously ill and passed away at the untimely age of 44. Eugene was 16 at that time.

After a short time passed, his Mother sold their beautiful home on West Center Street moving the family back to Mt. Pleasant to manage their farming property. Eugene attended North Sanpete High School where he achieved success in both academic and extra-curricular activities such as Junior Class President and President of the Student Body during his senior year.

Eugene inherited a love for music at an early age advancing rapidly in the instrumental field playing clarinet and saxophone, especially in the field of jazz. He played in various dance bands and musical groups all of his life, playing his first dance job in the seventh grade. He was highly regarded as a soloist in high school and college bands. Throughout his life, he gave freely of his time and musical talent to others for their enjoyment as well as for his own satisfaction. While in high school, he entered regional and state competitions, having to memorize a 45-minute solo, always coming in first place. He found he could memorize quickly realizing he had a natural ability to improvise as well as playing from arrangements.

After high school graduation, he moved back to Logan to attend Utah State Agricultural College. This was during the depression years, and it became necessary for him to seek temporary and regular employment. His main interests were in accounting and other related fields. He had been advised to study typewriting and shorthand competing in statewide contests receiving medal recognition for his efforts. These skills were helpful in securing part-time work as clerk in the Registrar''s Office at USAC. He also played in a sixteen-piece orchestra who played for all university student body dances on weekends; also driving in all kinds of weather to play for dances in cities and towns in Idaho as well as Utah. This was during the Big Band Era. He was an active member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He graduated in 1940 with a Bachelor''s Degree in Accounting and Business Administration.

Eugene married his college sweetheart, Edna Ruth Jensen, of Provo, Utah, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on October 11, 1940. They lived almost 69 wonderful years together as devoted sweethearts and pals. They began their married life together in Salt Lake City where Eugene was employed for First Security Trust Company as Mortgage Clerk. After two years, he then passed his Civil Service Exam and was employed in several war agencies during World War II which included the following: US Engineering Office during the initial construction phase of Hill Air Force Base; Chief Clerk for the Post Engineer''s Office at Camp Williams Training Base; and Office of Price Administration (OPA) as Chief Administrator over price controls of restaurants and slaughter plants in Utah and Southern Idaho. When OPA was phased out by the US Government, he moved his family to Clearfield, Utah, serving as Inspector for the Inspector General''s Office at Hill Air Force Base with responsibilities for price controls in western states as well as Administrative Inspections on Base. During 1953-55 he was Inspection Auditor for Base Comptroller involving him in training sessions in Dayton, Ohio and Wichita Falls, Texas. He retired from Civil Service in 1971, and became active in real estate and appraisal work and was employed as Deputy Assessor of Davis County until 1980. During all of these years, he played for dances with some great bands. While residing in Salt Lake, he played at Coon Chicken Inn on Highland Drive for six nights a week for six years. Eugene always said that when playing it was his way of relaxing after a hard day''s work.

Eugene was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with an unwavering testimony of our Savior and the truthfulness of the Gospel. He held numerous Ward and Stake callings, all of which he served faithfully and well. He also enjoyed being a Home Teacher for many years until he became ill. While living in Clearfield, he was a member of the Kiwanis Club serving at one time as Secretary.

Friends and family lovingly remember him as a talented and gentle, moral man of conservative values who was thoughtful of others. He was reluctant to draw attention to himself that may be tasteless and undignified. In every way he was always a gentleman a€" the more you were around him, the more you liked him. His manner was pleasant and unassuming. He was genuinely attentive to details about integrity, loyalty and kindness in relationships with family, close friends and business associates. He truly adored his loving wife and family, and they loved him dearly.

He is survived by his wife and two sons: Dr. Eugene Gary (Janice) Petersen, Great Falls, MT; Jeffrey Lynn Petersen, Phoenix, AZ; five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; sister, Evelyn Slaugh, Vernal, UT; brother-in-law, Richard Burke (Joyce), Provo, UT; sisters-in-law, WandaLee Taylor, Las Vegas, NV; Margaret Jensen, Salt Lake City, UT; and many nieces and nephews.

Many thanks for the awesome care given to Eugene at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City by his superb team of doctors and nurses headed by Dr. James P. Kuschner and his nurse, Mary Vietti, whom we love so much. Also, thanks to Eugene''s long-time physician, Dr. John K. Reis and his Alpine Hospice Staff for their compassionate care.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, September 2, at 11 a.m. at Lindquist''s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. with Bishop William Sheffield of the Pleasant Valley 4th Ward, officiating.

Friends may call at the mortuary on Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.

Interment, Lindquist''s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, 1718 Combe Road., South Ogden.

In lieu of flowers, and to honor Eugene''s commitment to research and helping others, the family requests any donations be made to Huntsman Cancer Institute wwwhuntsmancancer.org.

Send condolences to the family at: www.lindquistmortuary.com