Sister Joan Jensen Peterson, wife of Elder Wayne S. Peterson, died Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, in Salt Lake City after enduring the effects of Parkinson’s disease. She was 82.
She served as a leader of the California Oakland Mission from 1985 to 1988, alongside her husband during his call as a General Authority Seventy from 2001 to 2007 and then as matron of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple from 2007 to 2010. The Petersons also served together over the Family and Church History Headquarters Mission for two years.
“Joan lived a life of service and sacrifice and exemplified the pure love of Christ. Throughout her life, she met challenges with trust in the Lord and faith in Him,” her obituary stated.
Joan Alice Jensen was born on May 11, 1941, the second of six children of Ronald Victor Jensen and Delores Schiess Jensen. Growing up on a dairy farm in Hyrum, Utah, she enjoyed taking care of the animals, riding horses and helping to care for her younger siblings.
After graduating from South Cache High School, she attended Utah State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood development and elementary education. While attending a dance, she met Wayne Peterson. She remarked to a friend, “Now, he would be nice to marry.”
They wrote to one another while Elder Peterson served a full-time mission to Australia and then continued their courtship upon his return. They were married in the Logan Utah Temple on July 20, 1962. The Petersons welcomed six children to their home: four daughters and two sons.
Blessed with a soprano voice, Sister Peterson loved to sing, read, play tennis, ski and cook. With her knowledge of childhood development, she enjoyed volunteering in many classrooms and served on the PTA board. She also served on the board of “Love Lights the Way” for the Cottonwood Healthcare Foundation and on the board for the Utah Governor’s Mansion Foundation.
Through the years, she served as a stake Relief Society counselor, and as a ward Relief Society president, Young Women counselor, Primary president and teacher. Wherever she served, she led in a gentle and loving way, her obituary noted.
She is survived by her husband of close to 62 years, Wayne Skeen Peterson; her children: Linda (David), Jill (Richard), Judith (Jim), David (Marcia), Kathryn (Mike), and Paul (Emily); her siblings Jon, Rosemary and Maureen; 25 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Ronald and Jeffrey, and one granddaughter, Ashley Peterson.
A viewing will be held on Friday, Feb. 16, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary located at 1950 East 106th South in Sandy, Utah.
The funeral service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 11 a.m. in the Latter-day Saint meetinghouse at 1825 East 6400 South in Salt Lake City. Prior to the funeral service, a viewing will be held from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Larkin Sunset Garden Cemetery.
