Dorothy (Peterson) Belnap

Dorothy Peterson Belnap died on October 14, 2024, at the age of 92, while living in Fairwinds Assisted Living in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She was born December 8, 1931, at the home of her Grandma and Grandpa Crystal's in Garfield, Idaho, to Zola Crystal Peterson and Spencer Henry Peterson.  She married Emery Mead Belnap on June 29, 1954 in the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple.

Dorothy was raised in Garfield, Idaho, until the family moved to Terreton / Mud Lake, Idaho, where she spent time working with her father and younger siblings on their 360-acre farm. Dorothy was the oldest of nine (9) children and spent a lot of her time doing chores and working on the farm. She attended school in Terreton from first grade to eighth grade and then attended high school in Roberts until she graduated. Ricks College was next where she majored in education and graduated with a teaching certificate. Dorothy met Emery for the first time in 1949 at the Eastern Idaho State Fair in Blackfoot, Idaho, with her sister Shirley and cousin Marolyn. As the song lyric says, ‘I found her and lost her at the Idaho State Fair.' Upon his honorable discharge from the service, Emery went to Mud Lake to find Dorothy again and as they say, ‘the rest is history.' Dorothy taught for a total of 27 years of which 23 years were in the Snake River School District and enjoyed the students and fellow teachers she taught and worked with at Moreland Elementary 2nd or 3rd grade quad. Dorothy was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in various callings in the Primary, Young Women's and Relief Society. One of her most enjoyable experiences was serving with Emery in the Idaho Falls Temple Baptistry.

Dorothy and Emery started their family of four children in Wendall, Idaho, moved to Moreland, Idaho, next to Blackfoot, Idaho, and then to Riverside, Idaho, where they lived for 40 plus years raising their children on their 4-acres until moving to Idaho Falls in 2004. Dorothy and Emery enjoyed square dancing and attending jamborees at the Old Faithful Lodge in Yellowstone Park. In 1989, they began the tradition of holding family reunions and have continued this tradition every other year until 2022. Dorothy will be remembered for her love of gardening and canning the many things that were grown in their garden. She spent many years doing family history work and creating beautiful binders of memories of her ancestors. Dorothy was a great cook, excellent seamstress and a creative quilter. All of her children and grandchildren received beautiful quilts over the years from her.

She is survived by seven siblings, her children Alan (Brenda) Belnap of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Danette (David Sr.) Archer of Magna, Utah, Merlin (Jami) Belnap of Reno, Nevada, Luann Belnap of Blackfoot, Idaho, 15 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Emery Mead Belnap; her father, Spencer Henry Peterson; her mother, Zola Crystal Peterson; and a younger sister Shirley Peterson Ottersberg.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at the Brentwood Ward, 2040 Brentwood Drive, Idaho Falls, Idaho. The family will meet with friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, October 18, 2024, at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge Avenue, Idaho Falls, Idaho, and from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to the service. Burial will be in the Moreland Idaho Cemetery.