In Loving Memory

I want to take a moment and dedicate this post to my sweet ex-Father-in-law, Derrall Courtney Petersen. He passed away early Tuesday morning. Derrall had been suffering from pancreatic cancer and is now free from pain. I may not still be a part of the Petersen family but I will always treasure the wonderful memories that I have of him. He was the sweetest, most loving, kind, generous and hardworking man. Derrall always knew how to make you smile and was so appreciative of the simple things. He loved to spoil his family. Each year he would send his wife, Karen and all of the daughters-in-law on a trip so we could all be together and have fun. We traveled to Northern California, Seattle, Denver, Park City, Las Vegas and Victoria, British Columbia. Even though Derrall didn't go with us, he made sure that we all had a great time and were taken care of. On one occasion, he and Karen had arranged to have us all picked up at the airport in a limo and to top it off he had emerald rings made for each of us! In 2005, Derrall and Karen celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Palm Springs where they would spend the winters, with all four of their sons and spouses. I will never forget the little things that he would say like "I've got to run out to the Tooley's to check the wheat." The Tooley's was his beloved dry farm in Hansel Valley. And each time we would travel south on I-15 he would always point out the "interesting geological formations" on the mountains near Ogden. Derrall had studied Geology and educated us all on the things that he knew. He would take my children on his knee and bounce them and sing little songs to them. He loved playing his harmonica for the kids and could capture their attention with the first note. I remember him calling Conner his "goodest boy" when he was younger and I treasure the day that my precious daughter was born a few days after his birthday and was given the name Courtney, his middle name. He always shrugged off the fact that we chose her name because of him, but I know he was proud to have his name carried on with his fourth grand-daughter. I hope that he knew how much I love and admire him and appreciated the time that I was able to spend with him. Derrall leaves behind a lasting legacy of wonderful people who will miss him and who will always carry his memory with them. I am so grateful for the opportunity to know such a wonderful man. And my children are so lucky to call him grandpa. I know he is smiling, and he's looking down on them and watching over them. Even though we are all sad because of his passing and with tears streaming down my face as I type this, I know he is in a better place and we will see him again. This brings me comfort and peace.

Conner & Grandpa 2002

Courtney's "Birth"day, Feb. 11, 2003

Derrall & Karen on Courtney's blessing day.

Thanksgiving 2003
Watching the Mountain Crest Homecoming Parade 2003