Harold Dean Petersen

Pete was born in Hyrum, Utah to Alfred and Maude Petersen on June 7, 1930 and grew up in Cache Valley during the great depression. His family like many then was very poor. He shared a tiny two room house, with no running water and a coal stove, with his parents and siblings. At an early age he showed a passion for art, spending hours drawing in the margins newspaper pages (the only paper they had). That passion continued throughout his life, and was shared by his brothers Don and Roy who were also gifted artists. He graduated from Logan High School, and received a BFA from Utah State University, and an MFA from the University of Utah. Shortly after returning from his mission he met the love of his life, Lucretia Cushman, a talent pianist and teacher, whom he married in 1953. They raised four children in Salt Lake City, having shared art, music and family together for nearly 70 years.

Pete's relationship with God was essential to who he was throughout his life. While serving his LDS mission in Norway he acted as first counselor to the mission President, Axel Andresen. He would later served as Elder's Quorum President and LDS Bishop in the Canyon Rim 2nd Ward, where he and Lucretia lived for most of their lives.

A brilliant artist and teacher, his life was marked by a passion for both his art and for the people in his life. This includes a 30 year career building Utah's premier high school art program at Highland High School (where the art department is now named for him). On retiring in 1987, he continued to teach art classes out of his tiny home studio, which eventually led to the opening of the Petersen Art Center in Sugarhouse, founded by he and his son, Mark, in 1993. He continued to teach there full time until he was 90. Over his lifetime he touched the lives of tens of thousands of students as their teacher, mentor and friend.

Pete was preceded in death by his parents: Alfred and Maude, his three brothers: Roy, Don and Brent and by one grand daughter: Carly Jo. He is survived by his four sisters: Twila, Janet, Mary Lou and Sandy, his wife: Lucretia, his four children: Mark, Anne, Holly and Kim, his grandchildren: Nicholas, Dustin, Wyatt, Madeline, Nathan and Samuel, and by one newly born great grandchild: Jonah.

Funeral service will be held at the Canyon Rim LDS Chapel, located at 3100 East and 3000 South in Salt Lake City on Friday, February 3. Public viewing will held from 10:00 a.m to Noon, with funeral services at 12:30 p.m., followed by burial ceremony at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park (3401 S Highland Dr., Salt Lake City).

Both Pete and his family would like to thank all those who have enriched and touched him throughout his life, especially those who reached out to him, prayed for him and who cared for him in the last year. We would especially like to mention his Hospice Care aide, Amber Hincks, who's kind and insightful daily care helped make his last days more comfortable for both him and the family.