Dale Peterson

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather Dale Peterson returned to his Heavenly Home on January 11, 2025 at the age of 89. Dale was born on November 12, 1935 in Grover, Wyoming to Ed and Daisy Peterson. Dale was raised in the beautiful Star Valley where he graduated from Star Valley High School. He went on to graduate from the University of Wyoming with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1958.

Dale married Barbara Putnam on July 16, 1960 in Evanston, Wyoming. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple on February 12, 1962. They have been married for 64 years. To this union were born seven children – Deborah, Dixie, Douglas, David, Daniel, Darla, and Dayna.

Dale worked for the Wyoming Department of Transportation from 1958 to 1963 then with the Utah Department of Transportation from 1963 to 1979 as a Project Engineer and as a Research and Development Engineer. While in Research, Dale authored over 40 technical papers, some of which were nationally published, and some presented at Regional, National, and International levels. He served on 20 different national committees, panels, and task forces. From 1979 to 1986, Dale worked as a Consultant Engineer and as a Public Works Director for the Town of Mountain View, Wyoming. He returned to the Utah Department of Transportation in 1986. Dale completed his career retiring in 2000 after having served as the Region 4 Director for the Southern half of the State of Utah. One of the highlights of his career was going to Pakistan for 6 weeks in 1990 for the US AID to evaluate and develop a Scope of Work for a Maintenance Management System. After retirement he also did some consultant work. Dale received nine different professional awards during his career.

Of all of Dale’s accomplishments, he would tell you that the greatest was his family. He once said “Although I believe I had a successful career that I enjoyed very much, I feel my greatest accomplishments relate to my family and what they are and do.” He was often heard saying “It’s all about family.”

 Dale was a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, being baptized on April 22, 1961. He served in many different callings throughout his life such as Young Men, Sunday School, and Elders Quorum Presidents, as well as a Stake Missionary and a Bishop. His greatest love, however, was Family History and serving as a Family History Consultant. He received much joy, throughout his life, in sharing his knowledge and testimony of Family History.

Along with doing Genealogy and writing Histories of Family Members, Dale enjoyed woodworking, traveling with his travel trailer and spending time with family. He loved to attend family events, activities, and special occasions for his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He also enjoyed treating any and all of his family to lunch or dinner, often asking if you would like to “go get a bite to eat.”

Dale is survived by his wife, Barbara, his children Deborah (Frank) Sheets, Dixie (Kelly) Guild, Douglas (Wendy), David (Crystal), Daniel (Taunie), Darla (Spencer) Eyre, Dayna (Nathan) Sharp, 52 Grandchildren, and 55 Great Grandchildren with more to come………. He is also survived by his sister, Verree McNeel and sister in-laws Carol Peterson, Toby Putnam, Glenna Stonebraker, Sally Thornhill, Elda Wickham, Rayito Putnam, and Connie Nyman.

 He was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Daisy Peterson, his wife Barbara’s parents Elden and Olive Putnam, a brother Max Peterson, a sister in-law Marion Lee, brother in-laws Paul McNeel, Ralph Lee, DeVerl Putnam, Don Stonebraker, Dee Thornhill, Cliff Wickham, Blaine Putnam, and Danny Putnam, and a Great Grandson Beau Sheets.