Joseph Nelson Petersen

Our beloved Father, Joseph “Nelson” Petersen, passed from his mortal sojourn on November 17, 2024, surrounded by his children and wife. He was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and great-great grandfather.

Nelson or “Nellie” as he was often called was born November 2, 1931, in Salt Lake City, Utah to LeRoy Melvin Petersen and Evelyn Fern Hill. Nelson was the 9th of 9 children and was born when his mother was 43 years old. He grew up on a farm in Granger, Utah where he learned early the value of hard work and how to care for and attend to the livestock that were there. His lifelong love of horses began there on the farm.

Nelson attended Monroe elementary and later transferred to Webster elementary where his older sister Dorothy taught. He attended Cyprus High School where he excelled as an athlete in both football and basketball. Earning all-state honors in football as a senior.

It was at Cyprus that he met his eternal companion, Lois Shaw. She was a grade ahead of him in school even though they were only 2 months different in age. They married shortly after his graduation in September of 1950. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple in January of 1965.

Shortly after their marriage, Nelson was drafted into military service and began that service in December of 1951. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. With the Korean War in full swing he was immediately assigned, after several months of training, to the front lines of the Korean battlefield. It was here that dad spent most of the next year. An experience that he would never talk about until he was much older. After returning home in 1953 he served as an MP at Hill Air Force base until his honorable discharge in December of 1953.

Nelson and Lois began their family after his return from Korea in a home in Magna not far from Lois’s parents. They later moved to Granger and built a home next to the family home where Nelson was raised. It was here that his love for horses turned into a passion for horse training and horse racing. He could often be found at any of the tracks in South Jordan or Magna coaching his jockeys or even driving the chariots with his cutter racing.

Nelson worked at Kennecott Copper for 35 years in many skilled positions. He retired when he was 55 from Kennecott and began working for the Salt Lake Canal company where later he became president of the company. He was employed there until July of this year. Even in his advanced age Nelson knew every detail and nuance of managing water and water rights. He loved this job dearly and the people that he worked with.

Nelson took up golf after retiring from Kennecott and was a regular at the Copper Club in Magna. He began building golf clubs as a hobby and taught that craft to his sons.

Nelson was meticulous in everything he did. A perfectionist in his house, with his yard and the upkeep of the farm. He often stated though, that his greatest love was his family. He loved visits from his grandchildren and great grandchildren dearly and talked about them often. He was loved by them and he will be missed by many.

Nelson was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Merrill, Dorothy, Grant, Jean, Norma, Marian, Betsey and Joyce. He is survived by his wife Lois and his children Dave (Kathy) Petersen, Dawn (Terry) Hill, Brent (Kim) Petersen and Craig (Cindy) Petersen. 16 grandchildren, 51 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

Funeral services will be held Monday, November 25, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the Parkway 4th Ward, 3407 West 9625 South, South Jordan, Utah. A viewing will be held at the church prior to the service from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at the Valley View Memorial Park Cemetery.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.

The family also wishes to express gratitude to the kind and loving caregivers at Rocky Mountain Care in Riverton and Active Home Care and Hospice.