Don W. Peterson

Richfield, Utah – Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, Don Wesley Peterson age 73 passed peacefully in his sleep on the morning of March 30, 2022 at his home in Richfield. Don was born July 23, 1948 in Richfield, Utah a son of Henry Keith and Bernice Charlesworth Peterson. Don was raised in Richfield, where he grew up milking cows, hauling hay, and thinning beats on his dads farm with his brothers. Don was a graduate of Richfield High School class of 1966 where he participated in basketball, football and FFA. After high school he worked at Nowers’ Chevron where he made lifelong friends. Later he attended and graduated from Southern Utah State College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. After a brief stint as a sales rep for Aamco oil he returned to College at Brigham Young University where he graduated with a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics. Don spent one year in Colby Kansas as an associate professor for Colby Community College before receiving a job offer from Federal Land Bank as a loan officer in his hometown of Richfield where he stayed for the next 32 years as a loan officer, branch manager and Senior Appraiser making many lifelong friends of his co-workers and the farmers and ranchers he worked with all throughout Utah, Arizona and Nevada. At this new job Don met and married his eternal companion Ramona Oyler on July 20, 1984 in the Provo LDS Temple and together they raised, loved and adored a daughter Melinda Dawn from Don’s previous marriage along with their two boys Tyler Don and Rhett Lance. Don was blessed with the gift of gab and could carry on a conversation with anyone he came in contact with. After his retirement Don started a small appraisal company that grew quickly due to his hard work, diligence and drive to always have his work completed by it’s due date. His two sons followed in his footsteps and now run his company, which brought him great joy. They called him daily to converse on land and water matters. He had a wealth of knowledge to share and his son learned much from him. They will miss those daily phone calls asking for his advice. Don was a well-respected agricultural appraiser and had a hand in training many of the agriculture appraisers in the State of Utah including his boys. There are not many farms, ranches or rural places that Don has not seen or appraised over the 44 years he worked in the industry. Don was a proud member of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers where he was a past president of the Idaho/Utah Chapter. Don’s family was his pride and joy, and he loved chasing his kids around to all of their activities. His greatest joy in life was watching his kids do what they love and offering never ending support in their endeavors. Later in life, he adored his three grandchildren, spending as much time as he could with them. From a young age, Don always enjoyed working with and showing livestock, something that he passed on to his two boys. Don was very giving of his time and served as a committee member for the Southern Utah Junior Livestock Show for many years. Don was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints, where he served in many callings, but his favorite calling was with the young men of the church, where he was well loved by the youth of his ward. Don and his sweetheart Ramona enjoyed taking many trips together, and after her retirement, she accompanied him on the many road trips to look at farms; this was time together that they both adored. Don is survived by his wife Ramona Peterson of Richfield, Daughter Melinda (Monica) Peterson of Mesquite, NV. Tyler (Tina) Peterson and their daughters Eden Bernice Peterson and Ellie Janae Peterson of Bicknell. Rhett (Lacey) Peterson and their son Ryder Don Peterson of Richfield. Don is also survived by his two sisters Leeann (Frank) Fuller of Salt Lake City and Susie (Michael, Deceased) Erickson of American Fork. Don is preceded in death by his father Henry Keith Peterson, mother Bernice Charlesworth Peterson, and brothers H.R. Peterson and Steven Peterson, father in law Ernest Oyler, sister in law Leisa Oyler and brother-in-law Dwight Oyler. Don’s family would like to express their gratitude to Therapy West, and Matt Barney, for the many hours spent helping to better his life. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. in the Richfield East LDS Stake Center. 805 North 500 East in Richfield. Friends may call for viewing at the Springer Turner Funeral Home in Richfield, Monday evening from 6 to 8 P.M. or at the Stake Center Tuesday morning from 9:00 to 10:30 prior to the services. Burial will be in the Richfield City Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah. ---God be with you till we meet again.