Yale Peterson

Click Here To View Memorial Video Lester Yale Peterson, 95, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, passed away January 20, 2014, at Parkwood Meadows Assisted Living Community in Idaho Falls. He was under the care of Hands of Hope Hospice. Yale was born July 15, 1918, in Taylor, Idaho, to William Lester Peterson and Mary Viola Holm Peterson, the third of five children. He graduated from Shelley High School in 1937. He worked for the Agricultural Recovery Act, surveying and mapping farms in Bingham, Bannock and Bonneville Counties. He served an LDS mission to the Tahitian Islands. Because of the World War II, the mission was closed in December 1940. He finished his mission in Texas. On May 6, 1942, he married Glendora McGary in Salt Lake City, Utah LDS Temple. They farmed until he was called to serve in World War II. As a Staff Sergeant in the Army Air Corps, he was stationed in California and Hawaii. Upon completing military service, Yale worked as an Office Manager for the State of Idaho Department of Employment for 33 years, until his retirement in 1979. He worked in Idaho Falls, Nampa, Pocatello and Rexburg. He helped his wife manage the Senior Citizens Center in Shelley. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in many capacities through the years, including in bishoprics and as a High Counselor, and in numerous ward and stake callings. He served in many positions in local and district Boy Scout Councils. He served a total of four LDS missions, including a mission with Glendora in the Texas San Antonio Mission, and two stake missions. His hobbies were fishing, gardening and helping others. His thirst for knowledge kept him reading many publications. He enjoyed spending time with this family, especially fishing at a family friend’s pond at Meadow Creek. Glendora passed away on May 31, 2007. He married Vaudis McCurdy Hansen, who currently resides in Tempe, Arizona. L. Yale is survived by his wife, Vaudis; daughter, Kaye (Gary) Coles of Idaho Falls, ID; son, Allen Peterson of the Philippines; son, Mark (Anne) Peterson of Rigby, ID; son, Craig (Marilyn) Peterson of LaVern, CA; daughter, Jodi (Brett) Webster of Sterling, CO; sister, Ruth Peterson of Idaho Falls, ID; 24 grandchildren and 60 great grandchildren, and counting. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife, Glendora, brother, Kenneth Peterson, and sister, Bernice Thurston. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at Wood Funeral Home Eastside, 963 S. Ammon Rd. The family will visit with friends from 10:00 to 10:45 prior to services. Burial will be in the Shelley Hillcrest Cemetery, with Military Rites performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Memorial Team and Idaho Honor Guard.

Funeral Services will be held

11:00 a.m. ,Saturday, January 25, 2014 Wood Funeral Home East Side 963 South Ammon Road Idaho Falls, ID 83406 Notes: The family will visit with friends from 10:00 to 10:45 prior to services. Burial will be in the Shelley Hillcrest Cemetery.