Iris Petersen

Iris Carroll Petersen

Iris Carroll Petersen passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 25, 2021, at her granddaughter’s home in South Weber, Utah. She had been cared for by her family following a stroke in June of 2020.

Iris was born March 2, 1928, in Ogden, Utah, the youngest of five children to Frederick Moulton and Mabel Porter Carroll. She grew up in Ogden and attended Mound Fort Elementary. After graduating from Ogden High School, she worked at the Ogden Army Depot, the Clearfield Navy Depot, Hill Air Force Base, and the Internal Revenue Service Center – Ogden.

She met her future husband, Verlo Lloyd Petersen, in Hyrum, Utah, at her friend’s (and his niece’s) home, not long after he returned home from WWII. They were married by Iris’s father and bishop on November 14, 1947, in Ogden, and, on their second wedding anniversary, they were sealed for eternity in the Salt Lake Temple.

They spent about the first ten years of their married life in Ogden. In January 1958, South Weber became their home, except for a period of six years when they lived in Mesa, Arizona, where they owned a convenience store/laundromat called the Cow Palace. They would travel back to Utah in the summers to tend the South Weber farm.

She was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as ward president of the Relief Society, Primary, and Young Women’s organizations in Utah and Arizona. She was an ordinance worker at the Ogden Utah Temple, and she volunteered at the Ogden Family History Center for 20 years. From October 1993 to April 1994, she and her husband were full-time missionaries in the California San Bernardino Mission, lovingly serving in Newberry Springs. Later, from 2014 to 2015, she also served a mission at the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City.

She was the South Weber City Mother of the Year in 2001.

Iris loved being with her family, especially playing games and cards together. She also enjoyed golfing, traveling, and walking with her dear friends. Every month for 40 years, she attended the South Weber Women’s “Club,” where they always played games and shared a meal. She was also a member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers for many years.

Whenever you were with Iris, you felt special, loved, heard, and validated. She had a way of healing and warming others with her smile and positive outlook. She was more than a mom and grandma—she was a travel buddy, a friend, an adventure partner, a confidant, and a gravy / pecan candy / potato salad-making mentor. Iris was the kind of mom and grandma that her kids and grandkids bragged about to their friends. Her love of being with her family led to many memorable traditions and activities.  She had a quiet, unassuming way about her, but she was never afraid to have fun or be silly. In fact, she was usually up for just about anything. All you had to do was ask.  Iris especially enjoyed traveling with family members throughout the world. She even bicycled the trail to Mount Vernon at 83, she climbed Machu Picchu at 84, the Sydney Harbor Bridge at 85, and zip-lined in Costa Rica at 86!

We want her to be remembered most for her example of unconditional selfless love and her humble, unwavering faith in Jesus Christ.

After 93 years of love and service, our angel on earth is enjoying a long-awaited welcome in the spirit world, and we know she is excited to begin her work in her heavenly home. We love her and will miss her terribly, but we’ll be cheering her and Verlo on from this side of the veil.

She is survived by her children: Brent and Jan Petersen, Val and Diane Petersen, and Carrie and Tim Grubb, all of South Weber; 12 grandchildren (and their spouses who also lovingly call her Grandma); 23 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; many nieces and nephews; and her dog, Pumpkin.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and siblings. She was the last of her generation in both the Carroll and Petersen families!

The family would like to express appreciation to the caregivers at Petersen Farms Assisted Living, Envision Hospice, and Visiting Angels. A special thanks to Iris’s caregivers: Kaitlyn; Theresa; Shasta; Ashley; Angie; and also, to Jill, who always kept her hair beautiful.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 10, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. in the Uintah First Ward building at 6660 South 1775 East, Uintah, Utah. Friends may visit with family on Sunday, January 9, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the church.

Services will be live-streamed and may be viewed at www.lindquistmortuary.com by scrolling to the bottom of Iris’ obituary page.

Interment will be at the Uintah City Cemetery 1500 East 6450 South.

The family suggests donations be made to the temple or missionary funds of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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