Wanda Peterson Tenney

Wanda Peterson Tenney, at age 96, went home to her loving Father in Heaven on May 4, 2010 in Gilbert, Arizona. The beloved matriarch was surrounded by some of her 11 children who celebrated her exceptional life as she peacefully slipped away. She left few earthly possessions, her total wealth found in her posterity of some 370 beloved children, grands, great-grands and great-great-grands who call her "blessed." Wanda was born on March 30, 1914 in Snowflake, Arizona to Joseph and Amanda (Andelin) Peterson. At age five, Wanda's mother died, leaving her motherless until age 10 when her father married Lydia Savage. Lydia eagerly made Wanda her own. Vivacious and fun-loving, Wanda grew up in Snowflake and Lakeside, where her father was an educator and in later years a State Legislator. She thrived as a middle child amid 11 siblings and is survived by Levi Peterson, Leon Peterson, and Charles Peterson, all educators. Wanda attended BYU and NAU, then taught school in McNary and St. David, Arizona. On June 1, 1938, she married Lewis Noble Tenney of Alpine, Arizona. They are the parents of nine children: William F. Tenney, Kathryn Hancock, Linda Turley-Hansen, Lewis N. Tenney, Jr., Senator Sylvia Allen, Diana Tenney, Amanda Nikolaus (deceased), Armeda Stapley and Joseph Tenney. She cherished her two step-children, Warren Tenney and Kem Mac Neille, as well as her foster son, Ambrose Mexican. In their early years, Wanda and Lewis raised their children in Glendale, Arizona. Over the years she resided in Provo, Utah, Snowflake and Mesa, Arizona, then she and Lewis settled in Heber, Arizona. Wanda was preceded in death by Lewis, who passed away in 2000. While raising her children, Wanda taught grade school in Heber, Arizona. She collected dolls, loved music, art, travel, classic movies, journaling, and in fact authored and compiled multiple books of family stories and histories cherished today by her family. In her senior years she tied hundreds of quilts for her expanding family. Wanda and Lewis served three missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her posterity is her crown, glorified by her love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which guided her every step in raising her family and loving humanity. Never has a mother been so adored. The funeral service for Wanda will begin 10:00 A.M., Saturday, May 8, 2010 at the Heber Wards' Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (right off of Hwy 260 in Heber) where the visitation will begin at 8:00 A.M. The concluding service and interment will be at the Alpine Cemetery in Alpine, Arizona at 4:00 P.M., where she will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband. Arrangements are being cared for by Owens Livingston Mortuary - White Mountain Chapel in Show Low.