Dean Peterson

Dean Earl Peterson returned home to his Heavenly Father on December 16, 2024.

Dean was born on April 11, 1945, to his parents Victor Leroy and Elsie Marie Peterson in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was the oldest of 5 children. He grew up hunting, fishing, and even played basketball and football for West High School.

He met his true love, Barbara Back, when he moved across the street and later started working at the gas station owned by her father. He asked her to marry him over a box of french fries. They had celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary just the week before he passed.

Dean had his father-in-law help him build his first camper and that began one of his greatest passions. He loved to travel and wanted to show the world to the people he loved. Some of the places he took his family on adventures were Alaska, Mexico, Maine, Florida, and everywhere in between. They were constantly camping with many trips to Goblin Valley, Zion National Park, Disneyland, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park, Lake Powell, Arches National Park, the Oregon River, and many more. Later in life he decided that planes and cruise ships were also great and achieved one of his goals by visiting all 50 states.

Not only did Dean love his motorhomes, but he also loved his boats. He loved to take his kids and all their friends swimming, waterskiing, and tubing out on the lake. He was also a professional at driving the boat, holding onto his fishing pole, and taking pictures, all at the same time.

He was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was sealed to his beloved wife for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. They served a mission at the Church Humanitarian Center. He also served in many other callings, and his favorite was the many years working as Cub Master of the Cub Scouts. He shared his love for the Savior in his own quiet way of unconditional love and steadfast faith.

Dean and Barbara had 3 children: Ray Dean Peterson (Sandie), Wendy (David Pickle), and Tammy (Alex Jensen). He was a loving father and husband and made sure his family knew they were his whole world.

Dean also loved being a grandpa to Cameron Pickle (Callie), Cody Peterson (Laura), Neal Peterson (Brittney), Emily Sullivan (Kyson), Nathan Pickle, Kaylee Black (Jonah), Ally Jensen, Devin Jensen, and Aja Jensen. One of his greatest loves was taking the family camping every year to Fish Lake, which they loved, even though he usually won the trophy for catching the biggest fish.

Dean and Barbara have 5 great-grandchildren, Ellie, Grayson, Beckett, Lydia, and Cohen. He has more coming in the next several months and he was continually talking about how he had to be there to see them all. Only he didn't know he would be seeing them sooner than his family and would be the one helping send them through the veil to their earthly families.

Dean retired from the Salt Lake City Fire Department after 32 years. He loved it when his family came to visit him at the fire station and always allowed them to slide down the fire pole. He also made sure all his grandkids got to ride on his fire truck, turn on the sirens, and see the force of the water come out of the hose.

We can imagine the joyous reunion he had running into the arms of Wendy, both sets of parents, and his sister. He probably asked them where the best fishing hole was or if they wanted to play a card game of hand-and-foot.

Dean will always be missed, but we know that one day he will greet us again when it is our turn to go home. We are sure he will have found out where the best places to fish and camp are and will greet us with his well-known phrase, "Do you know how much I love you?" This is not a goodbye, it will always be, "God Be with You Till We Meet Again." We love you forever.