Herbert John Peterson- My Grandpa

Herbert John Peterson

HOOPER -- Herbert John Peterson, 90, passed away Thursday, January 10, 2013.

He was born July 13, 1922 in Ogden, Utah to John Soren and Irene Davis Peterson.

He married Wanda Simpson June 24, 1942 in Hooper, Utah. They were sealed August 16, 1944 in the Salt Lake Temple.

He served in the Army Air Corp during WWII.
Herbert grew up in West Ogden and moved to Hooper in 1952. He attended Hopkins Elementary, Central Junior High, and was in the second graduating class at the new Ogden High School in 1940.

He was a member of the LDS Church. He served faithfully in many positions, including an ordinance worker at the Ogden Temple for ten years.

He retired from HAFB after 31 years then opened Herb's Sharp Shop for another 31 years. He was a charter member of the Hooper Lions Club. His interests include gardening, model trains, fishing (especially in Alaska), golfing, reading poetry, and garage sales. He was a member of the Golden Spike Gem and Mineral Society. He loved spending Saturdays with his friends at Sam's Club. He was a great example of showing love to his wife and his children.

He is survived by his wife, Wanda; children, L. Scott Peterson; Tamra (Ray) Schenk; Ronald (Shauna) Peterson; Lyle (LaRae) Peterson; Jami (Bob) Bradley; Jon (Bonnie) Peterson; and Jeff W. Peterson; 30 grandchildren, 78 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving is his sister, Elva Hackwell.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Floyd, Clyde, and Clarence and two great-grandsons.

The family wishes to thank the nurses and aids at IHC Hospice and also family and friends for their support.
The family suggests a donation to your favorite charity.

In Loving Memory: Herbert John Peterson--- July 13, 1922 - January 10, 2013

(The following is a series of Facebook posts I made since my Grandfather passed away today.  I posted several memories on a special Family Facebook Page and I wanted to include them on my blog.  All the pictures of my Grandparents, Herb and Wanda Peterson, were taken last summer by my sisters friend Natalie (except this first portrait taken 15+ years ago) and are placed between the various Facebook posts I made.)

Early this morning, my Grandpa, Herbert John Peterson passed away at 90 years old. I have been able to reflect a lot on the lessons my grandpa taught me the past few days in preparation for this time. I will cherish my memories of him. One thing he told me every time I visited was "I sure do love you and I am so proud of you." He loved my grandma with all his heart and he told her that everyday. He always put grandma first in his life and I think he waited until my grandma was ready to let him go. I was able to visit grandpa Sunday night and his face lit up and he smiled at me when my dad told him I was there. I will always remember his face! I am at peace knowing my grandpa has "returned home" and his is with loved ones who have already passed on. My testimony of the plan of salvation has been strengthened today! I love you Grandpa! "God be with you til we meet again!"

I also visited with my sweet grandma for a few minutes this afternoon! What a sweet experience! She loves my grandpa - she misses him already! I love you too grandma!

Another memory of mine: I would often find grandpa sitting on a high stool in his shop, in blue coveralls (which he always wore), totally ASLEEP sitting up! Sometimes he would wake up if you walked in and other times, I would just walk out quietly and shut the door and let him enjoy his little nap.

Grandpa LOVED going to Sam's Club every Saturday morning! He loved to go and visit all of his "girlfriends" who demoed food there. He knew each and every one of the ladies and they knew Grandpa. One Saturday, about 10 years ago, I went to Sam's Club to do my own shopping and I ran into Grandpa there. Grandpa took me around and introduced me to each and every lady at the Riverdale Sam's Club (of course, we had to sample their food too). He was so proud of me and complimentary as he introduced me as his granddaughter. What a special time! 

Grandpa talked about his lady friends all the time. I always loved how Grandma let him talk (sometimes she would add an "Oh Herb") and I could always tell Grandma knew she was still and always would be Grandpa's #1!

Grandpa always was so proud of his kids and grand kids. He would share the accomplishments of others with the rest of us. Grandpa always made you feel really good about yourself and you always knew he loved you!

Grandpa loved rocks and gems. Whenever I would visit, I usually was given a tour of the gem case in the family room. Grandpa knew the names of every rock and gem and he could tell you a story of where he found the rock or who gave it to him. His rocks and gems were polished to perfection. Grandpa also loved making jewelry, belt buckles and clocks. Grandpa took great pride in his work! He always gave the most beautiful necklaces to Grandma. I remember a beautiful crystal necklace he made Grandma about 12-15 years ago. I still have the necklaces and earrings grandpa made and gave to me. I also have a rock clock Grandpa made Scott and I for our wedding-- a cherished keepsake!

Grandpa also loved taking me on tours of his immaculate garden. We would walk together by each and every row and he would tell me what he had planted, how the plants were doing, how often they needed watered and how long it would be before it was ready to eat. Grandpa planted corn, beets, peas, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, turnips, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, zucchini, cucumbers, beans, pumpkins, squashes of all kinds (crook-neck, spaghetti, winter, summer, etc.), radishes, etc. If vegetables were ready, he would pick some and send them home with me. Grandpa planted his last garden in 2011! Grandpa was very particular about the care and keeping of his garden!

I have many wonderful memories of grandpa! He loved us all no matter what and he always told me he loved me! 

Scott and I had a sweet experience with grandpa at his 90th Birthday Party in July. When Scott and I went to talk with him, we were commenting how wonderful it was that he had made it 90 years and was pretty healthy. He looked at us, with great love in his eyes and in his voice and pointed over to grandma with his thumb and said, "being married to Grandma for 70 years is a greater accomplishment. Not many people can say they have been married to the same person for 70 years". It was so sweet! I really wish I could have video recorded it! (Grandma and Grandpa had just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in June with those of us who could attend at the Timbermine). 

What a legacy of love! We all have wonderful examples of love and commitment! I'm sure grandpa and grandma had their struggles like the rest of us, but they worked together through each and everyone one.

Yesterday, when I stopped to visit Grandma for just a few minutes she said, "Herb told me every day that he loved me. The last few months he told me he loved me 5 or 6 times a day". Another great example to all of us!

I love you Grandpa! I will miss you but I am so glad I know where you are, who you are with and I know I will see you again someday! Families are Forever!

Grandma and Grandpa Peterson (Herb and Wanda)

The following is a little thing I wrote about my Grandparents in honor of their 70th Wedding Anniversary.  My aunt asked everyone in the family to record memories about Grandma and Grandpa--here are a few of my memories! The pictures of my grandparents were taken by my sister's friend in the Summer of 2011. She also took pictures of their home, Grandpa's shop and other items from their home which I wanted to include.

GRANDMA AND GRANDPA PETERSON

Herb and Wanda Peterson

70th Wedding Anniversary

Saturday, June, 23, 2012

I have many, many memories of Grandma and Grandpa Peterson.

It was always a treat to go visit Grandpa and Grandma Peterson as a child since we lived
further away.  I remember going to stay overnight at Grandma and Grandpa’s house
whenever we came to visit from Preston, Sandy or Tooele. . We would make beds for
ourselves on the green reclining chairs (of course, with eight of us kids, we would fight
over who got to sleep in the chairs). We would stay up late in our beds watching the
news and MASH with Grandpa. In the morning, Grandma and Grandpa always had boxes of
Honey Combs cereal for us to eat!

When I was baptized, Grandma gave me my own white Book of Remembrance with my
name engraved on it. Inside was a baptismal certificate and a pedigree chart. Grandma
has always had several large Book of Remembrances on her shelf that I loved to look
through with pictures and stories of our ancestors. I loved reading the stories of our
ancestors that she had collected and typed.  She had so many old pictures of our
ancestors too that made our ancestors come more alive to me. I also love looking at
Grandma’s scrapbooks she has kept over the years which she has labeled in her beautiful,
perfect cursive handwriting!

When I was about 10 years old, Grandma invited me to come and stay at their house for a
week during the summer. My family and I came up on a Sunday evening, for the
traditional cheese sandwiches and hot chocolate, and then my family left around 10:00 or
10:30 (we always stayed late).  Grandma and I had made big plans of going shopping
together and she was going to take me to the Classic Water Slides during the week. As
soon as my family left, I got changed into my pajamas and crawled in bed in the spare
room.  I started to feel really scared and I wanted to go home (my family was probably
only 10 miles up the road). Grandma comforted me and she promised she would drive me
home in the morning.  The next morning, we climbed into the car and she drove me home
to Sandy. She kept telling me we should have invited Aleece to stay too so I wouldn’t be
so lonely.

I will always cherish the time I had visiting with Grandma and Grandpa on Sunday
afternoons after I graduated from Utah State. I was living at my other Grandparents
home in Roy and Grandma Peterson invited me down to eat Sunday dinner with them
each week.  We had wonderful conversations about life and the gospel. Grandma and
Grandpa would tell stories from their childhoods and Grandpa would give me lots of
advice and Grandma would say, “Oh, Herb!!” It was so cute!.  I loved being with Grandma
in the kitchen preparing dinner and cleaning up! Grandma would share her recipes with me
and she has always been a wonderful cook! I went down to Grandma’s house, on several
occasions, before I was married, and she taught me how to make pie crust and homemade
bread.

Grandma has always kept her Book of Mormon on the little table by her chair in the family
room.  For years, the Hooper Stake gave out a little chart that said “I have read the
Book of Mormon in ___ (year)” with a little square to color in each day of the year when
you read.  Many, many times, when I go visit Grandma, I peek inside her scriptures to her
little chart and I notice almost every little box is colored in. I don’t know if Grandma
ever saw me sneak a peek in her book but Grandma, in her own quiet way, has taught me
the importance of the Book of Mormon and reading it on a daily basis. I thank you for
this legacy!!

I loved to watch Grandpa tinker around in “Herb’s Sharp Shop”over the years.  Grandpa is
always tinkering with something. Over the years, Grandpa’s interests have changed. I loved
watching Grandpa make clocks. He loved making jewelry and collecting gems, stones and
rocks. Whenever I would go and visit, Grandpa always had to show me the latest thing he
had made. I love listening to Grandpa talk about his wares!

I always loved looking at Grandpa’s beautiful vegetable garden.  Whenever we came to
visit, he would take me out to the garden and point out the different plants. Grandpa
has always taken such good care of his garden. Last year, Scott planted our first
vegetable garden. Before we planted our garden, Scott was talking to Grandpa about
plants and seeds and what varieties of fruits and vegetables Grandpa planted and why.
Grandpa sent us home one Sunday night with one of his “Gurney” catalogs and we ended
purchased many seeds and plants from it. It is always fun listening to Scott and
Grandpa talk about their gardens.

Mallory, Hayley and Brittney lovingly refer to Grandma and Grandpa as “Hot Chocolate
Grandma and Grandpa”! They love to visit Grandma and Grandpa on Sunday’s and carry on
the same traditions I loved as a child– going to Grandma and Grandpa’s for cheese
sandwiches, hot chocolate, Kool-Aid and Twizzlers or Red Vine licorice!

We love you Grandma and Grandpa!

Love,

Erin, Scott, Mallory, Hayley and Brittney

Clinton Creepers-- 2012 Wasatch Back Ragnar

Clinton Creepers Van #1

Corey, Jantzen, Steve, Mike, Amie and I (with Scott as our driver)

@6:45 a.m. before we headed up to Logan to start the race on Friday, June, 15, 2012

Things I Learned and Relearned from

Running the Wasatch Back Ragnar

2012

"Clinton Creepers"

1.  Always look for the good in others
2. It is so important to motivate and encourage others on their path through life.
3. Strangers can easily become friends as we help one another.
4.  Everyone’s path in life is different and each path is difficult in its own way. (Each of our legs were different and unique - we can’t compare them to one another in difficulty because each and every leg was difficult to each of us in one way or another.)
5. No matter how much training you do, you will run into bumps and unexpected things along the way.  You will be challenged physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
6.  The power of prayer and the power of the Atonements is REAL!!
7.  The importance of the love and support of those we love the most will get us through the hard times when we want to quit or give up.
8.  The importance of working together as a team.  We couldn’t have finished the Ragnar without the efforts of each and every team member!
9. We can’t do it on our own.  We must allow Jesus Christ to walk with us along the path of life.
10. There is a “Runner’s Wall”! It is real, but we can push through it and accomplish what we have set out to do!!
11.  There is a power in music!!
12. Positive self-talk (even talking outloud) can do wonders!
13. Running long distances is as much a mental effort as a physical effort!
14. After all we can do–- the Lord will make up the rest!!

I ran with some amazing people!! Everyone came and did their part and it was an awesome experience!
**Each of these lessons has an experience behind it! I will have to write them down soon!! Stay tuned!!
-Erin Ropelato
Sunday, June 17, 2012

Me finishing my last leg!!!

My sister Rebecca and I--Becca ran on another team but we met up at the finish line in Park City! It was wonderful to see her finish with her team!!

My wonderful "Clinton Creepers" team!! We finished the 197 miles in 34 hours and 48 minutes!!

Easter: I Know That My Redeemer Lives - Michael R. Hicks

My really wonderful friend Danielle sang this song "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" in Sacrament Meeting today (not this exact version). This is my most favorite hymn! Danielle has the most beautiful voice and she sounded angelic as she sang today! Thank you Danielle for sharing your talents today! Although I am not blessed with an angelic singing voice, I can recognize a beautiful voice when I hear one (can that be a talent??)! I truly appreciate those who can sing and play (my other dear friend Brooke played the piano for Danielle and Brooke is amazing) and share their testimonies through music with me!! Music truly speaks to my Spirit and I feel my Savior's love through music!!

What a blessed day!

Happy Easter!

Easter Sunday: Gethsemane Song - Stories of Jesus

Sacrament Meeting today was wonderful! The music was beautiful and the testimony's shared were powerful!! Our beautiful neighbor, Grace (who is 11 years old and one of my girls most favorite babysitters) sang this song "Gethsemane" today!! WOW! Grace has a beautiful voice and this song is so simple, yet so powerful and profound!

Here are the words to the song:

GETHSEMANE
by Roger and Melanie Hoffman

Jesus climbed the hill
to the garden still
His steps were heavy and slow
Love and a prayer, took Him there
to the place only He could go

Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
so He went willingly
to Gethsemane

He felt all that was sad
wicked or bad
all the pain we would ever know
While His friends were asleep
He fought to keep
His promise made long ago

Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
so He went willingly
to Gethsemane

The hardest thing that ever was done
The greatest pain that ever was known
The biggest battle that ever was won
This was done by Jesus
The fight was won by Jesus

Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
so He gave His gift to me
in Gethsemane

Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
so He gives His gift to me
from Gethsemane

As Grace sang, my heart was full! The line "so He gave it willingly" hit me pretty hard. Jesus Christ willingly gave His life for me--for all my weaknesses, shortcomings, sins, heartaches and pains. He suffered willingly for me because Heavenly Father asked Him to atone for my sins. Jesus Christ was 100% obedient to His Father's will! I wish I was as obedient as Jesus Christ!

I am surrounded by such wonderful family and friends! I couldn't ask for anything more. Our next door neighbor bore his testimony today about Jesus Christ today too! Nathan is a great young man!!

I heard such powerful testimonies of Jesus Christ today. A friend, Amy, reminded me that Jesus Christ already paid the price for my sins and I need to be willing to allow Him to heal me! I cannot express in words the feelings I felt and the things that touched my heart today!

Our Bishop, Bishop Barnett (my other next door neighbor--see I told you I was surrounded by great and wonderful people) challenged us to ponder the following questions:

1- What has Jesus Christ done for me?

2-What have I done for Him?

3- What am I doing for Jesus Christ?

I wrote the following in my little notebook at church today:

We knew and loved each other before this life. We cannot do it on our own. We need one another. Jesus Christ loved us enough to do the Father's will. Jesus Christ freed me from death and sin. The Atonement of Jesus Christ does heal. Jesus Christ can do His work! I am so lucky to have the knowledge and testimony I have!

Bishop Barnett read Isaiah 53:3-5 which says,

"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:3-5)

I have a testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know He lives! I know He loves me! I know He is my Savior and my Redeemer! My heart if full!!

Bagged, Tagged and Ready to Go!!

It's that time of YEAR!!

Yesterday and today, I got everything ready for our 14 Days of Valentine's! Everything is put together with a treat and valentine! Mallory, Hayley and Brittney are so excited to see what has been left for them each morning!

Happy 14 Days Before Valentine's to ALL!!

Super Reader Party

In November, Mallory, Hayley and Brittney participated in a Reading Marathon where they read at least 20 minutes per night for 4 weeks. Each of them met their goal of reading at least 480 and were invited to a fun to a fun celebration at the Utah State Fairpark. We were able to watch a star show, make slime, plant flower seeds, make crowns, watch a magic show, make masks, eat snow cones, make capes, see animals from Madagascar (a cockroach, turtle, millipede and a hedgehog) and make harmonicas. We also watched an anteater run circles in an empty plastic pool!! The girls also received a brand new book!!

One of the highlights was to meet several characters from PBS Kids! We met Curious George, the Cat in the Hat, and Dog from Word World! (My girls LOVE PBS Kids!!!)

Hayley: a chemist in action measuring chemicals to create Glitter Slime

Hayley, Brittney and Mallory listening to the zoologist from Hogle Zoo talk about anteaters

Brittney and Mallory blowing a pompom through a maze



Hayley shooting a dart gun (I was amazed at how well all 3 of our girls did hitting the target!)



Brittney and the Cat in the Hat



Hayley and The Cat




Mallory and the Cat in the Hat



Hayley and Dog from Word World



Brittney and Curious George

Mallory making her "I Feel Super" cape

We had a great time together as a family!!

Scott's Ice Fishing Trip to Rockport

Scott enjoyed his day off today by going ice fishing by himself at Rockport. He came home with 4 yummy trout for dinner!! (The longest two were both 17 inches long, one was 14 inches and one 13 inches).

Grateful Santa Doesn't Fulfill EVERY Childhood Wish

For Christmas, Mallory asked Santa for Squinkies (Squinkies are little characters/animals that come in a little bubble). A few days before Christmas, Mallory started asking for additional accessories for Squinkies that she really wanted. I explained to Mallory that Santa probably had all her presents ready for her and it was too late to ask for something new.

Santa ended up bringing Mallory a package of 16 Squinkies and the Squinkie Mall didn't make it in Santa's Sack this year!!

On Christmas, Mallory created "Beds" for all of her Squinkies out of Legos. Over the past few weeks she has created her own Squinkie Amusement Park and her own Assesories to play with. It has been so fun to listen to Mallory explain everything she has created and how things work. I love seeeing her imagination at work!!

Here is a look at her creations:

The Squinkies beds (the special green bed with flowers on it is for the Squinkie of the Day--each night the Squinkies move one bed to the right so they all have the opportunity to be Squinkie of the Day)

A closer look at the Squinkie Beds



The Squinkie Amusement Park (made from our Geotrax train tracks). In the center of the Amusement Park is the blue duck pond (water=blue lid to a bin; ducks=Legos and lilypads=Legos)

The Squinkies Airplane

The Squinkies Restaraunt inside the Amusement Park (notice the yellow flower on the table inbetween the two high back chairs)

The ducks and lilypads on the pond in the center of the Roller Coaster

A closer look at the ducks

I LOVE IT!!!