Walter Petersen

On Sunday, September 4, 2016, our blessed Lord came to take his child Walt Petersen, home with Him, at age 83. He passed of cancer at home with his family surrounding him. Walt was born October 5, 1932, in Idaho Falls, the third child joining his older sister Anne and older brother Henry; to Ernest Henry and Metta Marie (Rogalsky) Petersen. Walt's parents immigrated from Germany and settled in the New Sweden area where they farmed as a family and the children learned to work from an early age in every part of running a farm and keeping animals. He attended schools in Idaho Falls and graduated from Idaho Falls High School. After school, he proudly entered and served in the US Army as Staff Sergeant as an anti-aircraft gun commander during the Korean War from December 1952 - December 1954. Walt met Tallene "Tally" Worley on a blind date and four months later, they married on October 29, 1960 at St. John Lutheran Church in Idaho Falls. Walt and his brother Henry took over the farm from their father and expanded the farm to include "the basin" - a plot of land west of Idaho Falls that they continued to farm together and raised their children on the farm. Walt had a unique hobby and deep interest in collecting and restoring antique tractors and gas pumps and antique memorabilia. He would travel over a vast area looking for tractors, pumps, etc. He had a passion for this hobby and was completely adept at figuring out how to find or how to make parts. HE was very mechanically minded and became well known, not only at home, but in other states. He had a long line of his tractors in 3 or 4 Independence Day parades winning trophies. People would come to him for advice and help. One year he held a threshing bee running the grain through his antique thresher. It was quite and undertaking and many farmers came to watch. Walt was a special individual, a good husband, loving and patient father and friend. Throughout his life, he loved to tease and joke and hassle people, which endeared him to so many people. His children and niece and nephews had a special rapport with him. Walt is survived by his wife and lifelong partner Tally of Idaho Falls; daughter Angela Marie Hesse and husband John of Idaho Falls; son Corey Walter Petersen of Enumclaw, WA; grandchildren: Zach Burr and wife Brittney; Cassie and her boyfriend J.D. Miller; Noah Petersen and Elizabeth Petersen; great grandchildren: Jaxon and Myles Burr. Walt is also survived by his brother Henry Petersen and his wife Shirley of Rigby and many other family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Anne Griffel and her husband Everett. "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord." Jeremiah 29:11
You'll be missed my dear.