Eyston R Petersen

In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made to The Church of Latter-Day Saints Humanitarian Fund https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org/humanitarian-services/funds/humanitarian-general-fund

Eyston Rosencrantz Petersen, 83, returned home to his Heavenly Father Friday, October 29, 2021. Eyston was born September 30, 1938, in Salt Lake City to Ole R. Petersen and Phoebus Arvilla Birrell Petersen. He always felt honored to be named after Captain George Eyston who broke the land speed record twice in 1938 on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Once on August 27 and September 16, with Eyston’s father, Ole, serving as Captain Eyston’s right hand man in America. Our Eyston was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. On August 23, 1963, he and the love of his life, Barbara Fitzgerald, were married and sealed in the Logan temple. They had 58 wonderful years together in which he was always a gentleman and would send her affectionate greeting cards often. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he returned with honor from the Southern States mission and loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all his heart. He also served as a Scout Master, in the Elder’s Quorum presidency, and was ordained a High Priest. Eyston believed in the power of prayer and his last word, when the kids were heading out or partying, was “say your prayers”. When his last grandson was born, he had us all gather around the bed with Holly and little Devin and said a prayer, thanking Heavenly Father for the Plan of Salvation and the new, little spirit that came into our family. In 2012, Eyston retired from National Security Technologies (formerly EG&G and Bechtel), where he worked as a Senior Research and Development Technician and was honored for his 35-years of service. He had also spent 10-years working with his brother Mac at Petersen Electric Inc. as a service manager.

A quote from one of the many award nights honoring him was, “Eyston is a most unusual person. His dedication, ability, and stamina are truly amazing. There is no job too big to be done or too small to be well accomplished by him and his wife Barbara.” Though he loves woodworking, reading, gardening, cooking, silver-smithing, and beekeeping, his true passions are the Scouting and the Toys 4 Tots programs.

Eyston received many blessings from Scouting and to quote two of his Eagles, Eyston was, “A bearded scout master with a camera around his neck. Driving a yellow Dodge pickup, he was the “Kolob King”.” During his Scouting efforts, Eyston was recognized as the Scout Master for one of the top-50 LDS scout troops of 1971, he took 26 scouts to Idaho for the 1973 National Jamboree in the Farragut State Park, and he was selected as a leader of 50 Eagle Scouts from the Western United States to attend the 1975 World Jamboree in Lillehammer Norway, Nordjamb '75, where over 17,000 scouts and their leaders gathered. While there, Eyston gave up his Indian moccasins in trade for a Dutchman’s wooden shoes, both a size 15, which Eyston wore forever. Also, while in Europe, Eyston took a boat ride to Denmark where his Petersen grandparents were from before immigrating to the United States. To honor Eyston’s scouting efforts, the Las Vegas 24th Ward made a plaque titled, “An Eagle’s Man”, with each of Eyston’s 44 Eagle Scout’s names engraved on it, and on January 3, 1973, the Boulder Dam Area Council awarded Eyston the Silver Beaver award for his distinguished Scouting service. Three of his greatest scouting honors were achieved when his son, Erik, and two grandsons, Dallin and Devin Foster, followed his love and example to achieve their Eagle ranks and Eyston was chosen by his two grandsons to pin their Eagle badge on them.

For many years, at Christmas time, kids would mistake Eyston for Santa Claus with his white beard and red sweater. During his years at National Security Technologies, Eyston took the little Toys-4-Tots table they had for donations and turned it into three large moving vans full of toys. In 2009, he collected 141 bicycles by working with the local Toys R Us manager to purchase bicycles at cost. Eyston would put most of the bikes together nights and weekends in his own garage, but when he needed help, he and his coworkers would use their lab after hours for bike assembly. The United States Marine Corps Reserve unit in Las Vegas presented Eyston with their “Commander’s Award” for his outstanding achievement in support of the Toys-4-Tots program and for Eyston’s mantra of “every child needs a bicycle”.

Eyston is survived by his eternal companion Barbara, two children, Holly (Craig) Foster, and Erik Petersen, nine grandchildren, Haleigh (Darryl) Carter, Emileigh (Michael) Wong, Ashleigh Foster, Baileigh (Skyler) Brindley, Dallin Foster, and Devin Foster, three great-grandchildren, Owen Carter, Leigha Carter, and Eyston Carter, and his sister Betty Gray, sister-in-law Vaunie Petersen, sister-in-law Donna (Bob) Clark, and sister-in-law Carrie (Bill) Atkins. He is preceded in death by his parents Ole and Arvilla, two children, Heather Ann Petersen and Brandon Ole Petersen, brother McCarrol “Mac” Petersen, sister and brother-in-law Jeneal (Ed) Taylor, brother-in-law Gene Gray, sister and brother-in-law Karen (Rod) Milligan, and sister-in-law Vickie Brown.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude for the personal care given to Eyston at Vegas Valley Senior Care Home.

On November 13, 2021, the following services will be held in honor of Eyston at the Galleria Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (The Church) and at Palm Eastern Cemetery (Palm Eastern):

Reception: 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM at The Church (1551 W Galleria Dr, Henderson, NV 89014)

Funeral Service: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM at The Church

Committal Service and Grave Dedication: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM at Palm Eastern (7600 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89123)

Lunch: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM at The Church