Leonard "Len" Gale Petersen

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our family patriarch Leonard “Len” Gale Petersen. Len was born into a home of loving parents Alfred and Nina (Bebee) Petersen. On May 24, 1941. He was born in Ogden, Utah and went to Ogden City Schools.

At the age of 17 he enlisted in the Air Force with his brother William “Bill” so they would be able to serve together. Len was an aircraft mechanic and a crew chief with his own crew. Wherever the planes went, no matter which base he served at, he and his crew were not far behind. They did maintenance work on the planes and made sure they were in tip top shape and ready to go to their next assignment. He enjoyed traveling and was proud of what he did.  He received many awards for his work.

After his service he worked at Hinkley Dodge in Ogden as a body and paint man. He did excellent paint work and was known far and wide for the beautiful pinstriping he did on cars.  He and his father invented a number of tools, he never had enough money for the patents, so they sold them to Snap On Tools. He also collected statues of unicorns, if you never knew what kind of gift to get him you would be safe to get him a unicorn statue.

Len was a jack of all trades and liked to work with his hands. He also liked to do leatherwork. And won prizes at the fair for his leather work. He then moved to Harper Ward and had horses and enjoyed taking his son Todd on horseback rides up the mountains behind his home. He also enjoyed fishing, camping and (roughing) it. He always had flowers inside and outside of his home.  He loved plants (he had a green thumb). He was crazy for a good bargain. And spent lots of time looking through everything he could. Len did square-dancing for a number of years and served as president of his group. He loved square dancing on floats in parades. Also for a few years he worked at Radio Shack and was always ready with a joke. People told him he should have been a comedian. Len finally got to marry his high school sweetheart after a separation of 43 years.

Len is survived by his wife, Carla K. Ward Petersen and seven children, Christine (Robert) Horspool, L.Todd (Wendy) Petersen, Cindy (Jeremy) Fifield, Jamie (Gerald) Griffin, Amanda Petersen-Whitney, Kindra Perry, and Adam Petersen; 20 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; 5 stepchildren, 15 step-grandchildren and 18 step-great-grandchildren. 2 brothers, Ronald (Linda) Petersen and Alfred (Michelle) Petersen. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, favorite Grandma Bestama; 3 brothers and 1 stepson.

Graveside services will be held on Thursday, August 31, 2023 at 2 p.m. at Lindquist’s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, 1718 Combe Rd. Friends may visit with family on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the LDS Ward, 630 North 300 East, Brigham City, and Thursday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd.