Dick "R.B." Petersen

Dick "R.B." Petersen, age 86, of Las Vegas, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 15, 2014 surrounded by his family. Born September 11, 1927 in Hyrum, Utah, he spent his childhood on the Hardware Ranch in Black Smith Fork Canyon. He had been a Las Vegas resident for more than 50 years. Mr. Petersen worked in construction for more than five decades and was the owner of R.B. Petersen Construction Company. He served in the U.S. Army and was a member of the VFW. He served with Company C 46th Engineer Construction Battalion in Tokyo, Japan with Gen. MacArthur. He left the military as master sergeant. When he first came to Las Vegas, he worked for Wells Cargo He played a major role in the early development of Las Vegas, including the Dunes Golf Course, Desert Inn and the Silver Nugget. He and his wife were major UNLV scholarship donors and spent many years traveling with the team during the Tarkanian years! Mr. Petersen was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was preceded in death by his son, Todd Petersen, four brothers and two sisters. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, LaDawn; sons Scott (Christine) Petersen and Hal Petersen; daughter-in-law Sona (Darren) Lemmon; grandchildren Paris, Tyler (Megan), Rick (Tracy), Brian (Kate), Dustin (Cecelia), Michael (Kimberly), Todd, Brady (Nicole), Trevor (Jordan) and Paige (Andrew Bledsoe) Petersen and Connor and Bridger Lemmon; seventeen great grandchildren; sister Helen Olsen; and one brother, Marcus (DeLaine) Petersen. Family will receive friends fro 5-7pm Thursday, May 22 at Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd., There will be a second visitation 12-1pm, Friday, May 23,with services following, both at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3400 W. Charleston Blvd., Interment, Palm Valley View Cemetery. Contributions in Mr. Petersen's name are suggested to the Missionary Fund, Rancho Ward, 4224 Snead Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89107.