Terry Lynn Peterson passed away peacefully February 7, 2025 at the age of 72, after a short lived, unfair fight with pancreatic cancer. Terry was born July 1, 1952 to John Marlin “Buck” Peterson and Alberta Jacqueline “Jackie” Peterson, He was the youngest of four siblings, two sisters, and one brother.
Terry spent his childhood in Lehi Utah, where he spent every summer day and night swimming in the pool that his mom and dad had put in the backyard. Unfortunately his dad passed away before Terry’s teenage years, and there has surely already been a loving reunion with his father on the other side. Fortunately his mom remarried a wonderful man, Thomas Southouse, who became a wonderful example as Terry grew into adulthood and started a family of his own. Terry met a beautiful woman that he worked with at the Royal Inn in Provo Utah, and proceeded to use his motorcycle to woo her into dating him. They continued to date as Terry attended his further education at Dixie College, and later transferred to Utah State University where he received a degree in Psychology.
On September 8, 1973 Terry married the love of his life Cherie Anne Taylor, and they were sealed together for time and all eternity on December 1, 1976. If you could see their wedding photos you would know that he was extremely lucky to have convinced Cherie to marry him, but as it would turn out, she was also very fortunate to have found a man like him to love and care for her for the next 51 wonderful years. Together they raised their 4 children in Orem UT, Terry showed his family the value of hard work and perseverance by example throughout the years, as he always worked hard to support his family, even as he faced the inevitable bumps in the road along the way. He always had a love for beautiful landscapes and was able to cultivate that beauty throughout his professional life as well as personally making sure his yard was immaculate at all times, so much so that he received the Orem City Beautification Award multiple times.
Terry spent a large amount of his life in the service of others, both in his everyday life and through his service as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, where he served in many positions from teaching primary kids, to mission leader, and 12 years serving in bishoprics and as bishop. Most recently he was blessed to be called to teach a nondenominational class to youth that were trying to find their way. He took great pride in making them feel welcome, and giving them a path they could follow. If you were ever in a bind or needed direction in life, he was your guy. Terry would run to help anyone in need at the drop of a hat, with no questions asked, never expecting anything in return
Terry was a friend to all who had the pleasure of knowing him in this life. If you had the opportunity to have your path cross his at any point you would understand that it is very likely an impossible task to find even one person that would have a single negative thing to say about him. It was not just his glorious white hair that felt celestial but his very being, he was a great man that hopefully understood the immense impact he had on so many throughout his life as he completed his mortal journey on this earth.
Terry is survived by his beautiful wife Cherie, his 4 children, and their spouses Heather and Joe Wyman, Justin and Mandy Peterson, Amber and Bruce Egbert, and Colby and Hilary Peterson, as well as his 15 grandchildren that are his pride and joy. He is also survived by two sisters Colleen and Roberta, and his brother Mike. Terry was preceded in death by his dad Buck, his mom Jackie, and his stepdad Tom who undoubtedly were all waiting for him with open arms.
Funeral services will be held on February 17, 2025 at the LDS church building located at 31 West Maple Street Mapleton, UT 84664. A viewing will take place from 10:00-11:00 am preceding a Service to celebrate his wonderful life from 11:30-12:30. Terry will be laid to rest in the Mapleton Cemetery
2 Condolences for Terry Lynn Peterson
Condolences(2)
Jed Morley says
February 17, 2025 at 1:30 amTerry and I sat next to one another on a stake high council for a couple of years. He was always warm and welcoming to everyone. His ready smile was a signature characteristic of his. Terry is a living, kind man.
Leah Gibbons says
February 24, 2025 at 6:30 pmI love the Peterson’s! Terry and Cherie are salt of the earth people! They would sit out front on Sunday evenings just to visit and talk with all who walked by. Terry once paid me a very needed compliment. When I was feeling like I was the worse Sunday school teacher ever, he said before they moved that he was going to miss the best Gospel doctrine teacher he’d ever had (to that point)!! He’ll never know how much that meant to me. I was very sad when they moved out of the Northridge 3 rd ward- but he was really good at keeping in contact with us on FB and visiting church once in a while! We’re all going to miss him! And we hope we get to still hear from Cherie once in a while!