Bobette Heppler Peterson Johnson passed away in Salt Lake City on December 4, surrounded by her family. She had broken her hip in a fall the day before Thanksgiving.
She was a lovely and loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. For almost 92 years, she shared her great spirit, sense of humor, and musical talents with everyone she met. Her testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sustained her through many trials, including scarlet fever as a child, hepatitis as an adult, and the deaths of two children and her husband, Glendon E. Johnson. Throughout their lives together, Glendon and Bobette were living testimonies of love--for each other, for their friends, and for the Lord.
Born January 28, 1924, in Richfield, Utah, Bobette was the daughter of James M. Peterson II, a banker, and Louisiana Heppler. As the last of 11 children, she learned early about self-reliance and sharing.
Bobette often said that her parents' story profoundly influenced her own. Their service as missionaries in Texas and Louisiana and her father's calling as a counselor in the Manti Temple Presidency after a heart attack taught her lessons in sacrifice and service that she would emulate the rest of her life. She was 14 when her father died, and her mother's cheerful outlook during difficult times, faithful church service, and devotion to family would later be reflected in Bobette's own life.
When Bobette met Glendon at East High School, they began an eight-year courtship that led to 64 married years together. After her graduation in 1942, she attended Utah State Agricultural College where she joined Chi Omega sorority. She transferred to Brigham Young University and graduated in journalism in 1947. Her first job was working in the Salt Lake City wire room of Merrill Lynch. The couple waited for Glendon to complete his overseas tour as a captain in the army and then serve a mission to New England before being married. On August 15, 1949, President Stephen L. Richards of the First Presidency of the Church sealed the couple in the Salt Lake Temple.
Bobette and Glendon first lived in Boston where he attended Harvard Law School. His career would take them to homes in Chevy Chase, Maryland; Salt Lake City, Utah; Houston, Texas; Galveston, Texas; and Miami, Florida. When they lived in the Washington DC area, Bobette was a secretary to Sen. Wallace Bennett (R-UT) while Glendon worked as his Administrative Assistant. Bobette also performed with the "Singing Mothers," a group of LDS women who sang at the 1964 World's Fair.
The couple had three children. After Glendon Jr. ("Woody") and Eric Andrew ("Shad") were born, Bobette lost five other pregnancies that were nearly full-term. But they were blessed to adopt a two-year-old Texas girl they named Tawny Bobette. With grace and faith, Glendon and Bobette later faced the loss of Shad in a car accident at age 22 and Tawny of leukemia at age 12.
Such faith, coupled with resilience, generosity, and warm hugs, were the hallmarks of Glendon and Bobette, and as a team, they inspired and touched many lives. They were a stunning couple, whether riding horses at the family ranch, dancing the two-step, or delivering mince meat pies they made as Christmas gifts.
Their home was always a busy place. Glendon served as president of the Houston Texas Stake, a Regional Representative, and CEO of several insurance companies. Bobette was a gracious hostess who welcomed people of all faiths and backgrounds into her home. She too was a leader, serving five times as Relief Society president. She worked on community service projects and gave tours as a docent at the Museum of Church History and Art (now called the Church History Museum). Her home was filled with roses, chocolate chip cookies, mystery novels, and shoes with super high heels--and few people ever left her home without a root beer in hand.
To her three granddaughters, Bobette was a beloved Nana with a colorful wit, classy style, and love of life. Her energy and sweet tooth never waned, outlasting even that of dear great-grandchildren she plied with Gummy Fish.
She also had a special bond with her siblings. Whenever the seven "Peterson girls" got together, there was laughter and singing; in beautiful harmonies, they preserved family songs and lullabies.
The spunky Richfield girl who honored her Danish-German ancestry by having the cleanest house on the block, who could hula and perform underwater ballet, who taught modeling and charm classes, and who would walk a mile in the rain for ice-cream will be greatly missed by her family and many friends. It's been four long years since Glendon passed away, but Bobette told the little ones that when she sees her cowboy again, she's going to shout, "Yippee!" She is survived by her son, Woody, his wife Page, and three granddaughters and their families: Jenny and Mark Champoux (Justin, Brooke, Jack); Erin and Kyle Stewart (Ellie and Avery); Katie and Matt Critchfield.
Funeral services are Friday, December 11 at noon, Monument Park 16th Ward, 1320 Wasatch Drive, SLC with a viewing beforehand from 10:00-11:30. Interment will be Saturday at the family ranch in southern Utah. Funeral Directors Larkin Mortuary.
