Lester Vernon Peterson

Lester Vernon Peterson passed away peacefully on October 16, 2015. Lester was born in Madison, South Dakota on June 24, 1920. He was one of five children born to Tello Peterson and his wife Lisa. In 1927, the family moved to western South Dakota and purchased a 1000 acre ranch. Lester attended a one-room country schoolhouse for eight years. He attended four years of high school in Chester, South Dakota, graduating in 1937 at the age of sixteen. At age seventeen he joined the Navy, serving in WWII and the Korean War, making it a twenty-year career before moving to San Diego. From April 1, 1958 until October 4, 1979, he was employed by the City of San Diego as an electrician. In 1945, Lester met his wife, Jane, in a coffee shop in Washington, D.C. and they married a year later. They were married for 51 years. Jane preceded him in death November 1997. Lester is survived by his three daughters: Carol Moore (husband Rick Moore), Paula Spedding, and Beverly Peterson-Cordova (husband Fred Cordova). Grandchildren include Brandon Rosario, Laura Peterson-Phife, Patrick Southern, and Julia Peterson-Southern, and two great grandchildren, Jeremy Vanderlip and Heaven Southern. Lester loved to fish and golf. He was fond of gardening, too, and would spend many hours in the back yard growing the most beautiful roses and best tomatoes ever! He also loved music and would play the accordian and sing. Lester was an active member of the First Congregational Church of Chula Vista, the La Mesa Lodge, and the Spring Valley VFW.