On Monday, October 7, 2024, Donald Robert Peterson of Draper, Utah, died peacefully at his home after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He loved Jesus Christ, his family, his friends, serving others, the opera, good food, reading, gardening, painting, woodworking, sailing on Lake Michigan, home improvement projects, crossword puzzles and watching the news. His energy was boundless. He left a legacy of faith, hope and love to his family and to others.
Don was born on February 17, 1931, in Oak Park, Illinois, to Robert Albert and Grace Marie Leth Peterson. He grew up in Dixon and Rockford, IL, and was the first of his family to attend college, graduating from DePauw University in Greencastle, IN, where he majored in art and English. Afterwards, in 1953, he served his country in the Army at Fort Bragg as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division and earned his jump wings by parachuting. He was among a select group of individuals that jumped out of the first airplane they had ever boarded. After the Army he got a job as an advertising manager for Jockey Menswear in Kenosha, WI.
During this time, his sister Muriel and her husband Joe Olson met missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and introduced Don to them. He was baptized in 1961 and attended church in Racine, WI, where he met the Larsen family and the love of his life, Margaret Ann Larsen. They married on December 15, 1962. Within a year, they moved to the northern suburbs of Chicago, where Don worked in marketing for the Kitchens of Sara Lee. He then took a position in the marketing department for Continental Bank, a position that set the course for the remainder of his career. While working full-time, Don attended night school at Northwestern University to receive his MBA. Don and Margaret’s three sons, Mark, Douglas and James, were born in Chicago.
Don’s jobs with other firms led the family to Littleton, CO, Dayton, OH (Winters Bank) and Omaha, NE (FirsTier Bank), where they made lasting friendships in each location through their service in the church and the community. Among his many responsibilities, Don served as an LDS bishop, a Scoutmaster, President of the Omaha Symphony Board, a member of the American Bankers Association, and a member of several professional marketing organizations. He was involved with the Rotary Club, Boys Town and Omaha’s River City Roundup, and he was a host for Warren Buffett’s annual charity golf outing. In their retirement, he and Margaret built their dream home in Utah, where they made more new dear friends and served as temple workers, family history consultants and inner-city service missionaries. Their greatest joy was gathering with family.
Don spent his life in loyal devotion to God and his family.
Special thanks to Intermountain Homecare & Hospice and to neighbors, ward members and Brenda Ramirez who have been so helpful in caring for Don.
Don is survived by his wife Margaret; his three sons Mark (Jamie), Douglas (Janice) and James (Joelle); nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 19, at 11 am at the South Mountain 2nd Ward on 272 East Traverse Point Drive, Draper, UT, 84020, with visitation beginning at 9:30 am. The service will be livestreamed via Zoom and can be accessed by clicking the "Watch Services" button above. In remembrance of Don, please take a friend to the opera or symphony or plant a tree.