Peter Knute Peterson, beloved husband, father and distinguished attorney, died peacefully at home June 10, 2000 of pan-creatic cancer.
He was born in Ephraim, Utah, April 5, 1918, the son of Peter Canute Peter-son and Ethel Rawlings Peterson. He spent his youth in Ephraim helping with the family farm. He loved sports, photo-graphy, tennis and golf.He graduated from Snow College and then attended the University of Utah Law School, graduating in 1940. He immediately joined the U.S. Navy serving his country for six years in World War II. He served one year in Naval Intelligence, one half year in Aleutian Islands and then was sent to Officers Training and assigned as Captain of LST 847, a landing ship tank which carried men, supplies and tanks to land on the beaches of the Pacific Islands where he served four and a half years and attained the rank of Lt. Commander.
He returned to civilian life in 1946 and was retained as attorney for Mountain Fuel and Questar Gas where he worked for 54 years. Peter was greatly admired and respected for his fine legal mind, his great integrity and kindness.
He married Katherine Hess, July 21, 1947 in the Manti Temple, being sealed for time and eternity. They had a lifelong love affair for 53 years. They have four children, Dyan, Katherine, Knute William and Elizabeth. He loved great music and the Utah Symphony and was a wonderful supporter of the orchestra. Katherine played with the Symphony for 50 years.
His life was one of love for God and Jesus Christ, his wife, children and grandchildren, America and for his fellowman. He served the Mormon Church in many capacities and was always helping someone in need. His life was one of honor, integrity, love and kindness. He was truly a noble man.
He is survived by his adoring wife, Katherine and his beloved children, Dyan Peterson and Sarah Bullen of Chicago, Ill.; Katherine Peterson of Long Beach, Ca.; Knute William and Mazal Peterson of Salt Lake City, Utah; and Elizabeth and Jeffry Kirschen of Philadelphia, Pa. He has four precious grandchildren, Daphna and Aaron Peterson and Rachel and Mariel Kirschen. He is also survived by his sister Margaret Ottosen; Ethelyn P. Taylor; Kathryn Welling and her husband Lawrence; sister-in-law Enid Peterson, wife of Neal Peterson, his brother who preceded him in death; and Dr. William Peterson and his wife Rosemarie.
His family expresses deep gratitude to his dear friend, Dr. Jack Jensen, Hospice nurse, Jennifer Shaw and nurses aide Raphael and Lucero Guerrero who were all so very kind, caring and loving to him in these last difficult days and weeks of suffering.
His funeral will be held Wednesday, June 14, 2000, at 12 noon, in the Ensign 6th Ward, 18th Ave. and Hilltop Road. Viewings will be from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday evening June 13, 2000 at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, and from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Ensign 6th Ward before the funeral service. Interment in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.