What a glorious day it was on April 1, 2016 as the earthly sojourn of our beloved father and grandfather, Heber Darwin Peterson came to a close and he passed joyfully through the veil to the eternities. Though our loss is profound, we rejoice knowing he was welcomed home by a loving Heavenly Father, our mother Ruth ‚ his deeply loved and missed eternal companion, his parents, all of his siblings and Aunt Pearl. He was so anxious to see them all.
Heber was born August 8, 1928 in Ogden, Utah to Jonas Lee Peterson and Hilda Charlotte Hansen. Raised in Sacramento, CA, he returned to Utah after faithfully completing a mission to the New England States. Within days of his arrival in Ogden, he met a beautiful young woman who captured his heart and on January 12, 1953 Heber married Ruth Nadine Poorte in the Logan Temple. They remained sweethearts, deeply in love, until Ruth died in 1998.
A glass glazier by profession, Heber took great pride in his work. He was a man of impeccable integrity, was without guile and his word was his bond.
After Heber retired, he served for many years as an ordinance worker in the Salt Lake Temple and as a volunteer at LDS Hospital. In both places he made many dear friends which enriched his life. Heber always had a deep concern for others and many lives were blessed with quiet gifts of money or visits for cheering. He always strove to serve without recognition.
Heber's talented hands could fix and build anything. The sounds of sawing and hammering could mean Christmas surprises, home additions, or even a grandchild's playhouse. His handiwork is everywhere in the lives of the people he loved. For his six children, the smell of new lumber will forever evoke strong memories of Dad and an exciting new project.
As Heber's children, we grew up in a home filled with love, laughter, lessons of discipline, honesty and hard work. Our home was especially filled with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our father didn't just teach us the gospel, he lived it and we learned by his example. To his last breath Dad remained faithful in his testimony of the Savior and was true to his covenants.
Heber's final months were spent living in Laura and Rod's home receiving loving care, sitting on the patio catching a few "rays", having long heart to heart talks with children and grandchildren, and was able to continue being a vibrant part of the family. To Laura and Rod, we express our deepest love and heartfelt gratitude for your selfless love and compassion to Dad.
Heber was surrounded to the end by his family ‚ we loved him and he loved us! Our family will be together forever ‚ because of Heavenly Father's plan!
Heber was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and all six of his siblings ‚ Woodruff, Virginia, Arvilla, Joseph, Violet and Naomi. He is survived by his six children ‚ Christine (Jay) Kiefer, Ann Jessen, Laura (Rod) Lewis, LeGrand (Cindy) Peterson, David (Espie) Peterson, Michael Peterson; 14 grandchildren and 16 Ω great-grandchildren; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. in the Pioneer 3rd Ward, 12682 S. Starlite Hill Lane (6125 W.) Herriman, UT. A viewing will be held from 9:30 ‚ 10:30 prior to the funeral services at the ward. Interment will be at 3:00 p.m. at the Bountiful City Cemetery, 2224 S. 200 W., Bountiful, Utah. For more information, please visit www.larkinmortuary.com.
