Larry Wayne Peterson

Larry Wayne Peterson was born on April 20, 1944, in Thornton, Idaho, the first son of Alta Hillman and Dewain Arnold Peterson. From the beginning, Larry was a child of energy and curiosity—his first word was “tractor,” and he spent his early years perched on his father’s Farmall A, riding through fields and absorbing the rhythms of farm life. Larry attended local schools and though academics didn’t initially capture his interest, he found his stride in high school, where he became president of the FFA, captain of his intramural team, and earned multiple scholarships to Ricks College.

In 1963, Larry was called to serve in the Alaskan-Canadian Mission and returned home with a deepened sense of purpose.

Larry met Judy Ellsworth at BYU after a chance encounter at a mutual friend’s house. He asked for her number, and their first date was spent playing jacks—a simple beginning to a lifelong partnership. They married in 1967 and built a life over 58 years together.

He began his career as a Plant Physiologist at the Biological Science Research Center at Shell Development in Modesto, California. Later, at DuPont in Delaware, he pioneered a water-soluble packaging system that addressed the challenges of inaccurate crop-dosage measurements. After retirement, Larry continued to contribute to DuPont through its legal department, where his analytical approach and meticulous attention to detail made him an invaluable asset in the Benlate fungicide litigation cases.

Larry was competitive and driven to achieve, whether it was wrestling in high school, as a Scoutmaster, or hiking in the mountains. After retiring, he found the perfect outlet in road cycling and he cherished the friendships formed over countless hours on the road and thrived on the camaraderie. He set himself, always-increasing, annual milage goals, last year cycling more than 21,000 miles. His Strava stats tell the story: a total logged distance of 223,039 miles—equivalent to cycling around the equator nine times.

He was kind, loyal and always ready to help. When he wasn’t on his bike, he was in the service of others and never too busy to help someone in need. He babysat grandchildren, fixed faucets, tiled kitchens, installed bathrooms and weeded gardens. He was the quiet strength of the family, the glue that held everyone together, and a steady, loving presence in the lives of all who knew him.

Larry was predeceased by his sons Cary Wayne Peterson, who passed away unexpectedly earlier this year, and Timothy Eyring Peterson, whose short life left a lasting impact. He is survived by his children: Tony Ben Peterson, Lisa Gunn, Tonya Lynn Peterson, and foster children Melinda Mary Dryden and Matthew Wells. He was a proud grandfather to nine grandchildren, and a cherished figure to many who found him a mentor, a helper, and a friend.

Instead of flowers, if you would like to honor Larry, the family invites you to make a donation in his name to the Huntsman Cancer Institute. https://give.huntsmancancer.org/page/67433/donate/1 – Over 16 years, Larry raised more than $52,000 through charity rides for the Huntsman Cancer Institute, combining his passion for cycling with his commitment to service.

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