Verl Peterson

Verl Hugh Peterson

Bountiful, UT– Verl Hugh Peterson, age 91, passed away on March 18, 2016 at his home in Bountiful, Utah.  Verl was born on February 15, 1925 in Weston, Idaho to Ivan Edwin Petersen and Marretta Merle Frederickson.  He was the second of their four children.  When Verl was born the hospital misspelled his last name on the birth certificate, spelling it with an “son” instead of “sen.”  He was once asked if the spelling should be changed back to “sen” for genealogical purposes and replied that it didn’t matter because technically the name should have been Pedersen.  That historically the name had evolved being Pedersen, Hansen, Nielsen and then ultimately Petersen. He explained that the next family name was now a new generation of Peterson. Verl had pride in his lineage both past and present.

He grew up in the small farming community of Stockton, Idaho, which was so small that they ended up having to close the school down and traveling to neighboring communities.  His mother took him to attend school in Swanlake while his father stayed home to work the farm.  He then attended high school in Downy where he played center and nose guard on the football team.  After completing high school, Verl moved back to Stockton to help his dad on the family farm.  The following year, on November 24, 1944, he enlisted in the United States Navy and was assigned to the USS Whitney, Pacific Theater.  He was a Coxswain Seaman First Class, and because of his exceptional sense of direction he was usually assigned to steer the Captain and Admiral’s barges from the ship.  He was proud to be a veteran of World War II.

On June 21, 1946, Verl was honorably discharged from the navy and began working in an auto repair shop in Preston, Idaho.  He married Kathleen Albiston Anderson on February 13, 1947, and they became the parents of Donald Bruce and Michael Verl.  Less than one month after Michael’s birth, Kathleen passed away.  As a young father of two Verl relied on his mother’s help until he met Ruth Hannah Nelson of Mink Creek, Idaho.  The two were married on November 26, 1952, and were later sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple. Verl and Ruth were the parents of Gwen and David J. The two lived a long and happy life together.

Verl established his career with El Pasco Natural Gas Company which later became Northwest Pipeline.  He worked as the corrosion manager for many years and loved his job.  Each time he shared family photos he always threw in a few slides of rusty old pipes.  His job moved the family around from Rangely, Colorado, to Pocatello and Boise, Idaho and ultimately to Bountiful, Utah. At the age of 56 Verl was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration and sugar diabetes and was forced to take a medical retirement.  This diagnosis changed Verl’s life.  Ruth became his eyes and their chauffeur as they traveled from coast to coast in their motorhome.

Verl was an active member of the LDS church and served faithfully in many callings. His favorite and most difficult calling was the opportunity he had to serve with his wife Ruth as a missionary in the Chicago and Denver LDS Temples.

Throughout this life Verl was dedicated to serving his family, faith, country and all who were around him. He was hard-working, happy, honest and truly a man of great character.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth; his children, Michael (Laurie) Petersen of Boise, ID, Gwen (Tony) Dunn of Vancouver, WA and David (Bonnie) Peterson of Kaysville, UT, daughter-in-law Georgina Peterson of Bellflower, CA; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; brother Larry (Marjean) Petersen; sister IvaLou Perryman and sister-in-law Elda Petersen.

He is preceded in death by his first wife Kathleen; son Bruce; parents; and brother Wayne Petersen.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, March 26, 2016 at the LDS Chapel located at 1476 North 300 West, Bountiful. Friends may visit family Friday March  25th from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary 727 N. 400 E. and 9:30 – 10:30 am at the Church prior to services.  Interment Bountiful City Cemetery.

The family would like to thank Encompass Home Health and Hospice, especially Tawnie, Shanlee, Lisa, Sara and Penny for their kind and loving service.  The family also expresses appreciation for The Heritage Place Senior Living, where Dad loved the friends he made and also having three square meals a day.