Elizabeth Gordon Peterson

Elizabeth Ann Gordon Peterson passed away peacefully on July 19, 2025 at the age of 83 years old surrounded by her family in her home in Sandy, Utah. Her passing was a merciful release from recent health challenges, including cancer. The previous seven years that she had since her near-death pulmonary embolism were a bonus gift for which her family is very grateful. They wish to thank Elizabeth’s wonderful neighbors, friends, fellow church members, and the dedicated staff at Huntsman Cancer Institute and the Huntsman at Home Health & Hospice for their most excellent and loving care.

Born on January 26, 1942 to John “Jack” and Maurice Gordon, Elizabeth grew up in West Seattle. As the eldest of four children, Elizabeth was raised in a home where faith, learning, and hard work were guiding principles. She often expressed gratitude for her “goodly parents” and the foundation they provided.

During her teenage years, Elizabeth developed a lifelong interest in and great talent for all things related to sewing. Motivated by her father’s offer to buy her “all the fabric and patterns that she wanted”, Elizabeth learned to sew and has never stopped. Over the years, she took lessons and took on projects of increasing complexity. She sewed everything from dresses and suits for herself, Sunday dresses for her daughters, and beautiful baby blessing outfits for her grandchildren. For 17 years, Elizabeth taught sewing classes and private lessons to beloved students, some of whom became very dear friends. Her sewing business was aptly named “Sew Betsy,” a reference to her nickname, Betsy, that she chose as a kindergartner when she had trouble spelling her given name.

Wishing to follow in her mother’s footsteps, Elizabeth began studying nursing at Brigham Young University. But her attention and interest soon turned to a much more interesting subject, Lewis Van Peterson or “Van” as she would come to know him. They were married in the Los Angeles Temple on June 15, 1962. Eventually, they moved to Redondo Beach, Torrance, and later to San Pedro, California as Van began his teaching career. While waiting to begin their family, Elizabeth worked and looked forward to becoming a mother. Sadly, she struggled with infertility which caused her and Van much heartache.

With much prayer and divine intervention, Elizabeth and Van welcomed six children over the next eleven years. Their family is very unique given that each child was adopted from a different biological family which made the Peterson Family wonderful and a wonderfully interesting blend of personalities. Elizabeth was and definitely still is very proud of her posterity. Nothing mattered more or made her happier than her family.

Throughout her life, Elizabeth was a productive and self-disciplined person. She first began working in the medical field during high school as a receptionist for a family physician in his after-hours evening clinic. Her attention to detail, organizational skills, and quick mind were talents that she used in her work as a secretary, billing specialist, and office manager for several different medical practices. Elizabeth was a practical, no-nonsense, and dependable problem solver. She was willing to put in the time to figure out what needed to be done and then she just did it. Elizabeth loved a good project, finished what she started, and usually completed her work with high-level results whether she was working, sewing, decorating her home, playing the organ, or doing family history work. A visible pattern in her life was that of Elizabeth developing and utilizing her talents to bless others.

Elizabeth’s strong faith in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father guided her throughout her life and was the foundation of her tireless church service. She was a life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She taught Primary, Relief Society, Sunday School, and Seminary; served as the Primary President and the Young Women’s President; played organ for various congregations and in the temple; and served alongside Van in a Spanish-speaking congregation and as family history and service missionaries. Elizabeth and Van loved being part of the Harbor Ward in San Pedro, California where they spent the majority of their years raising their children. In 2007 when they retired and moved to Sandy, Utah, they felt blessed to become part of the Glacial Park Ward. Elizabeth loved her neighbors and appreciated having ward members living in close proximity.

As a mother, Elizabeth ran a tight ship and kept a well-decorated and immaculate home. She taught her children self-discipline, a strong work ethic, and Gospel principles by her example. She especially enjoyed her years having adult children whom she counted as her friends. As a wife, Elizabeth was loving, loyal, thoughtful, and very supportive of her husband in his work and his church service. Throughout their 63 years of marriage, Elizabeth and Van were a great team. They had complementary strengths. They were devoted to each other and united by their faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Elizabeth is survived by her loving husband, Van; their six children, Wendy (George) D’Isabella, Carol (Ron) Tyler, Brian (Tiffany) Peterson, Amy Johnson, Karen (Nathan) Freeman, and Maryann (James) Dastrup; their 28 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren; as well as her sister, Sally, and her brother, Jay. Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, John “Jack” and Maurice, and her brother, Bruce.

Elizabeth’s funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, July 26 at 10:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 2675 Mt. Jordan Road 9700 South, Sandy, Utah 84092. Interment will follow the funeral service at Larkin Sunset Gardens located at 1950 E. 10600 S., Sandy, Utah 84092. Friends and family are welcome to join the Peterson Family back at the church building following the interment. The funeral will be livestreamed via Zoom and can be accessed by clicking the "Watch Services" button above.