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Portrait of Brent J Peterson
In loving memory

Brent J Peterson

December 13, 1940 – October 19, 2021
Lived 80 years
Declo Cemetery · Declo, Idaho
Life story

Brent J Peterson, age 80, of Burley, Idaho, passed away at his home, from pancreatic cancer, Tuesday, October 19, 2021.

Brent was born December 13, 1940, in Blackfoot, Idaho, to John Heber and Bernadene Bird Peterson. He grew up in the little community of Wapello, near Blackfoot, with three brothers and four sisters. The family moved to the Goshen area during his high school years, and he graduated from Firth High School as valedictorian of his class. In Goshen, he met a pretty neighbor girl, Vicki Larsen, and they dated and were married after graduation on September 2, 1959, before heading off to Utah State University in Logan, Utah.

In 1961, Brent's father began developing land for irrigation in the Heglar area of the Raft River Valley and asked him to help manage the farm. With a desire to farm, he jumped at the chance and never looked back. In time, that farming experience grew to include farms in King River, Nevada, as well as Glenns Ferry, Cottrell, and Declo.

To Brent and Vicki's union, six daughters in a row were born, followed by three sons. For a period of nearly 25 years, they had a child attending Declo High School.

Brent also worked in several ag-related businesses and eventually worked for seven seasons as an agricultural adviser and manager on three overseas projects in the Republic of Georgia, Turkey, and Romania. He also worked as a consultant on farms in South Dakota and Montana. For twelve years he managed the Tare Lab for the Amalgamated Sugar Company during the harvest.

Brent was a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Because his parents were very active in the Church, he claimed he had been involved since he was a babe in arms. He served in many teaching and leadership positions, including high councilor, stake mission president, and bishop. He and Vicki served as ordinance workers in the Twin Falls Temple and they also served two six-month missions in the Tennessee Nashville Mission.

Because his father was a great scouter, Brent also loved the Scouting program and was involved for most of his life. He started as an Explorer advisor, working directly with the boys for many years, then as a member of the Scout committee, merit badge counselor, as well as a stint of service as Committee Chairman of the Cassia District. He also served the community as a member of the Cassia Memorial Hospital board for five years.

Brent loved music and enjoyed singing. He participated in the ward choir most of his life. When they were younger, Brent and Vicki sang duets together. For several years, he also sang with the barbershop harmony group, the Snake River Flats.

He had two main hobbies in his later years: gardening and writing. He loved to raise a garden and work in his yard, claiming that was the only farming he had left to do. He compiled and wrote four books about the histories of his ancestors and also wrote the life story of his parents. He also wrote seven books about his own life story, including a children's book with his daughter, Lori, about his adventures growing up on a farm. These stories were filled with many family events, Thanksgiving and Christmas activities, and always an annual family reunion. In later years, Brent and Vicki's time and love were devoted to their large family.

Brent was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Vicki; his siblings; and his nine children, Sherri (Mike) Wardinsky, Lori (Glen) Steadman, Camille (Gerald) Ackerman, Regina Tausinga, Tiffany (Tonga) Angilau, Nicole Parker, John (Julie) Peterson, Blake Peterson, and Glade (Amber) Peterson; 31 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren

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Lifetime

The world Brent knew

Family milestones in gold, history for context

1940
Born December 13
1942
Brent was 2 when Bing Crosby recorded "White Christmas"
1959
Brent was 19 when Barbie made her debut
1964
Brent was 24 when President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act
1971
Brent was 31 when Walt Disney World opened in Florida
1989
Brent was 49 when the Berlin Wall fell
1994
Brent was 54 when "Friends" premiered
2001
Brent was 61 when Apple introduced the iPod
2015
Brent was 75 when "Hamilton" opened on Broadway
2020
Brent was 80 when SpaceX launched astronauts into orbit for the first time
2021
Passed away October 19, age 80
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Declo Cemetery
Declo, Idaho
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