Sigurd Bertel Peterson

It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Sigurd “Sig” Peterson, after a long and productive life. Sig was born in Calgary and raised on a farm in Scandia, Alberta. He was the fourth child of Albert and Josephine Peterson and had a happy childhood growing up in a small farming community. Sig attended Camrose Lutheran College and joined the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm in 1943, was sent to England where he trained to be a pilot. At war’s end he returned to Canada, enrolled at UBC and graduated with a degree in Agriculture. While at UBC he met the love of his life, Elizabeth Rathlef of Nanaimo, they were married in December 1947. His career with the BC Dept of Agriculture took him and his growing family to Creston, Courtenay and finally Victoria. He was appointed Deputy Minister of Agriculture in 1971 and retired in 1983. He had a productive time as DM, being one of the original authors of the legislation that led to the Agricultural Land Commission being enacted. In retirement, he and Mom spent winters at Apache Junction in Arizona, and of course their main retreat was their beloved cabin on Whaling Station Bay on Hornby Island. Dad loved fishing (at Hornby), bird watching, and gardening. He maintained a small orchard and vegetable garden in Cadboro Bay well into his late 90’s. His real passion was painting, which he took up relatively late in life and served as the President of the Oak Bay Art Club for several years. Sig believed the key to happiness in old age was to wake up each morning with a purpose to the day, in his case it was to produce a painting. He moved to Luther Court in 2021 to be with Elizabeth and lived there until his death. Sig is predeceased by all his siblings; his Grandson Tyler, and survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and four children; Alan ( Lori), Donald ( Deborah), Brian ( Audrey), and Alison (Joe). He is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, all whom he loved. He outlived most of his friends, however the staff and residents at Luther Court became his “family”. Sig made a final trip to Sweden in 2008 to visit his 11cousins then alive, all women from both sides of the family, and all over 90 years of age. He enjoyed that visit very much.

He will be missed for his unwavering good nature, his devotion to his family, his generosity, and most of all, the love he showed to everyone. The family is deeply indebted to the staff at Luther Court for the caring compassion shown to Dad every day he lived there. We also thank our sister Alison for her singular devotion to Dad. RIP Dad, you will be missed. There will be no service, a family gathering will be held on Hornby Island later. Donations in memory of Sig can be made to the Luther Court Society of Victoria.