CEDAREDGE — Donald Hald Petersen of Cedaredge passed into the arms of his Savior on Sunday, May 31, 2009. He was 95.
Mr. Petersen was born Aug. 28, 1913, in Dannebrog, Neb. to Louie and Rose (Hald Mead) Petersen. He spent his childhood and attended school through high school in Dannebrog. He graduated from Wheaton College in Illinois and later attended Purdue University. He married Inez Carolyn Hulting in November 1937 and they lived in Oak Park and Glen Ellyn, Ill., suburbs of Chicago, until he retired from Perfection Metal Heat Treating in the late 60s. Inez preceded him in death in the spring of 1997. He married Barbara Hendricks in July of 1998. She survives.
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They moved to Cedaredge in 1971 where he became a gentleman farmer and planted several hundred apple trees. He always said he found his dream, “a custom built home on acreage with duck ponds and l900 feet of Surface Creek flowing through the property.” He was happiest on one of his tractors regardless of the project on hand.
He was responsible for funding the Cedaredge Public Library building, the Chapel of the Cross in Pioneer Town, the chapel/multi use building at the Delta Correctional Facility, a large portion of land in Pioneer Town and donated several pianos and organs to churches in the area. For many years, he supported the music program at Mesa State College and the college gave a Petersen Concert every spring with a renowned artist. He was on the original board of directors at Horizons Care Center and helped establish the apartment complex there. Don was a man to look up to. He felt he had been blessed financially and he gave freely to organizations and to those in need. He often said, “It isn’t the money you have, but how you use it to help others.”
He was honored by the Cedaredge Chamber of Commerce as Citizen of the Year on two separate occasions, received awards from the Surface Creek Valley Historical Society, the Cedaredge Public Library and was named Philanthropist of the Year in June of 200l for the entire Western Slope.
Mr. Petersen is survived by his wife, Barbara Petersen of Cedaredge; his son, Raymond Petersen of Grand Junction; daughter, Donna Lynn Poland (Larry) of Redlands, Calif.; brothers, Nelson Petersen (Albie) of Boulder, Robert Petersen (Ann) of Dannebrog, Neb., John Petersen (Lois) of Berrien Springs, Mich.; a sister, Helen Petersen of Peoria, Ariz.; a sister-in-law, Jean Petersen of Bedford, Mass.; two step daughters, Christine Baker and Kathleen Baker of Vancouver, Wash. and a stepson, Ted Baker (Greer) of Alta Loma, Calif.; six grandchildren; two step-grandsons; eight great-grandchildren; and one step-greatgranddaughter.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Inez; his parents, Louie and Rose Petersen; his older brother, Raymond Petersen and his brother, Dr. James Petersen.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 6, 2009 at the Cedaredge Community United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. A private family service will be held at his beloved Chapel of the Cross at a separate time.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, P.O. Box 24, Delta, CO 81416.
You may add your Memory Tributes for the family at www.mesaview.net.
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