Phil Blackham Petersen

Phil Blackham Petersen, 89, 0f West Valley, Utah passed away peacefully at home Sunday evening February 16, 2020 with his wife lovingly watching by his bedside as he peacefully  slipped away.

Phil was born November 28, 1930 in the LDS hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah to Peter J. Petersen & Lorraine Blackham Petersen. He was raised with one sister Gwen P. McNelly.

Phil learned how to work from his father as they moved many times as ranchers. He grew up picking fruit, milking cows, operating farm equipment and rounding up cattle on his horse. He loved horses and his dog. He would agree that he was a spoiled child but was very respectful to adults. He enjoyed playing football and basketball on his school teams and many years of Fastpitch Softball on his church team.

He graduated school from South Summit High School then joined the Army and served in the Korean War for three years. When he came home, he met his future wife, Renee Jolley, at Carlisle Manufacturing Company. They would sit together each day at a small dining place next door to their work. Phil would order Tamales smothered in chili every day. Renee wondered why he ate the same thing every day only to find out later that he had all his teeth extracted and could only eat soft foods. He started walking her home each day from work. They would stop at the streetlights, talk a while then he would turn and go in the direction of his home and Renee would walk down the street to her apartment on “D” Street. They courted for 9 months then were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 11, 1954.

Phil worked at several jobs before being hired to work at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah Where he worked for 32 years retiring at the age of 59. After a short vacation he was hired part time at the LDS church pasta plant in Kearns, Utah as a clerk for 19 more years.

Phil and Renee raised a family of four awesome boys in Kearns, Utah: Don (Leslie), Mark Shauna), Jeff (Renee) and Todd (Katt).

Phil was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He held multiple positions from Elders Quorum President, Bishop of the Kearns 14 th ward for 7 ½ years and a counselor in the Stake Presidency for 8 years. He Loved keeping busy and he Loved the Lord. He loved serving in the Temple and was an ordinance worker for nine years. He and Renee served nine years at Temple Square as Ushering Missionaries. They had a wonderful life together and a marvelous family. Phil was proud of his family and cherished them all. He had 17 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. Those gone before him are his parents; and one granddaughter Trina Petersen (Mark), and last but not least, he is survived by all his regular golfing friends. Phil enjoyed golfing more than life and loved playing golf with his sons.

Phil, Husband, Dad and Grandpa,

God saw you getting tired. The cure was not to be.

He wrapped you in his loving arms and whispered, “Come with me”.

You suffered much in silence,  Your spirit did not bend.

You faced your pain with courage until the very end.

You tried so hard to stay with us. Your fight was all in vain.

God took you to his loving home and freed you from your pain.

You didn’t deserve what you’ve been through and so he gave you rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us. He only takes the best.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, February 22, 2020, 11:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Harman Ward at 4634 Harmon Dr. (3700 South). There will be a viewing from 9:30 - 10:45 am. Interment will be at Redwood Memorial Estates, 6500 South Redwood Road West Jordan, Utah on Monday, February 24, 2020 at 10:00 am.

To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Phil Blackham Petersen, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.