Dan Petersen

Dan Lloyd Petersen returned to his Heavenly Father Wednesday morning, September 29, 2010. He was 91 years old. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on August 23, 1919 to Gerda Mathilda Jensen and Niels Lauridsen Petersen, two immigrants from Denmark. After spending his boyhood in Salt Lake and Murray, Dans parents moved to Bountiful. Dan graduated from Davis High School in 1938. In the summer of 1939, Dan was called on an LDS mission to Denmark. But shortly thereafter Hitler invaded much of Europe and Dans visa was revoked. So, Dan proudly served in the Pacific Northwestern States Mission. Right after Dan returned from this mission, Pearl Harbor was attacked. Dan enlisted into the Army. He became a weatherman for the Army Air Corps. After the war, Dan attended the University of Utah where he trained in botany under Dr. Walter Cottam. He graduated with a bachelors degree in biology and a masters degree in botany. Dan had multiple equivalent degrees. Dan married Virginia Edman in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on April 11, 1957, a schoolteacher he met at Stake Conference. Virginia died of cancer in 1983. They had four children. Dan worked for 32 years at Hill Air Force Base where he was a mathematician for the Propellant Analysis Laboratory. When he retired he met Reona Christensen who replaced him at Hill Air Force Base. Dan and Reona were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on March 29, 1986. Dan was an ordinance worker for many years in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. He served there until his 89th birthday when he received an honorable release. Dan enjoyed his garden, rocks, hiking, camping, traveling and scouts. He was the consummate Environmental Science merit badge counselor. Dan held many callings in the L.D.S. church. He was particularly beloved as a home teacher. Dan is survived by his wife, Reona; his four children, Janet (David) Crossen, Clark (Brenda Bergeson),David (Rosalie Bergeson),Robert (Lori Teuscher), his brother Earl (Ellenore), 21 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by Virginia and his brother Alvin. Dans goal was to be accepted by Heavenly Father saying, Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter into my presence. He looked forward to the second coming of the Savior. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon, Monday, October 4, 2010 at the Bountiful 58th Ward Chapel, 200 North 200 West, Bountiful. Prior to the funeral, there will be a viewing at the chapel from 10:45-11:45 a.m. There will also be a viewing on Sunday, October 3, 2010 at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 North Main, from 6:00-8:00 p.m.