Don L. Peterson

Don L. Peterson of Snowflake, Arizona died at the Sierra Blanca Rehabilitation Center in Lakeside, Navajo County, Arizona May 7, 2011, just eight days before his 89th birthday. Don L. was born May 15, 1922, in Thatcher, Graham County, Arizona, the youngest child of Alma and Blanche Walrade Bilby Peterson. The family moved to Mesa when Don L. was 10 years old. They moved back and forth between Mesa and the Gila Valley for most of his childhood. He graduated from Mesa High School and then served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Central States (Colorado and Nebraska). He began his mission on Pearl Harbor Day. After he finished his mission, he joined the Navy and served on a "baby flattop" in the Pacific through the end of the war. He met Lucile Eyring at church in Chandler. They began writing and, in 1945, she met Don L. in San Francisco and they were married May 22, 1945, in Oakland, California with both their mothers present. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Mesa Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Don L. and Lucile had four children: Donna Rescorla of Snowflake, Don Peterson of Manti, Utah, Richard Peterson of Holbrook, Arizona and Doug (Nina) Peterson of Springville, Utah. They have 21 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. For more than 35 years, Don L. served as a teacher and school administrator. His last position was as the business manager for the Ganado School District. One of his first positions was with Holbrook High School where he taught English, journalism and drama. When he retired, Don L. and Lucile moved to Snowflake and went on a series of LDS missions. They first served in Costa Rica/Panama, then Guatemala, Chile and New York City. Between missions, they had several other callings including managing the church cannery and Bishop's Storehouse in Snowflake. They also served a number of years as temple workers in both the Mesa and Snowflake LDS Temples. Don L. loved to read the scriptures and to discuss gospel principles. He also loved gardening and had one of the most attractive yards in his neighborhood. He worked many hours planting his vegetable garden so the family could enjoy the produce for many months. He loved the gospel and tried very hard to live all its principles. He was predeceased by his parents; his brothers and sisters; Leoma Shumway, Horold Peterson, Chester Peterson and Melba Allen as well as one grandson and several great-grandchildren. He and Lucile had a special relationship and, because of their many missions, they learned to depend on each other for everything they needed. As mission companions, they grew to love each other even more than they had at the beginning of their marriage. He will be missed by those he left behind but we know he was happily welcomed by his many friends and family members. The visitation and viewing will be held Friday, May 13, 2011 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Owens Livingston Mortuary - Heritage Chapel, 84 E. 19th S. in Snowflake, Arizona. The funeral service for Don L. will begin at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, May 14, 2011 at the Temple View Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2885 W. Highway 277 in Snowflake, Arizona, where additional visitation will begin 1 hour prior. The concluding service and interment will follow at the R.V. "Mike" Ramsay Memorial Cemetery in Snowflake, Arizona .