On Friday October 7th, 2022, our lives were forever changed. Our beloved mother Betty Sanchez Peterson joined her husband, parents and brother in heaven.
Our mom was born in Dragerton, Utah now known as East Carbon on April 9th, 1945 to Florencio and Rebecca Sanchez. She was the third born joining her brothers Raymond and Florentino and later on her sister Becky would join them.
Betty was a very cherished daughter and grew up being dressed liked a princess. Betty was raised in Dragerton, living in the same house most of her life and attending elementary, junior high and high school with her friends from the “neighborhood”.
Betty loved to take road trips with our dad and was up and going as soon as they decided they identified a place to go. Our dad was our moms’ husband and best friend for over 45 years until his passing in 2011. Our mom loved the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and was obsessed with college football. The day of her passing, she was leaving for Las Vegas to watch Notre Dame and BYU play in Las Vegas and while she would miss the big game, we like to think Notre Dame won it for her. She was already wearing her Notre Dame necklace in preparation for the college football game.
Betty loved to talk about her children and grandchildren and was quick to brag about them when she had a chance. She was passionate about decorating her house for Halloween and Christmas and would easily create a wonderland where people would come by to see her elaborate Christmas Village and train set, often bringing their friends and family with them.
While growing up, our mom was a stay-at-home mom but later on in life she worked at Smith’s Food, in Price before retiring. She loved to tell stories of the customers and who she had talked to that day. Our dad would visit her everyday on her lunch break to have a cup of coffee for him and diet coke for her.
She was a member of Notre Dame Parish and would often help serve lunch or dinner to families grieving the loss of their loved ones. She attended mass there every Saturday and was faithful to her church and her beliefs.
While a loss of a mother and sister is devastating to the family, we know that she loved us all and she knew that we loved her. Her passing is very hard to accept for our family, but the memories of who she was, what she believed in and her commitment to her family will stay with us forever.
Betty is survived by her four children, Fitzgerald Petersen (Francie) , Price; Stacy Ray Peterson, Price; James O Peterson III, aka “Scooter”, Sandy Utah; and Natalie Peterson Cedeno, San Francisco, CA; as well as her sister, Becky (Rean) Vandongen and brother, Florentino Sanchez all of Salt Lake City.
Along with her children who she loved so deeply, she had 7 grandchildren, Erin, Aremu, Michael, Michael Justice, Christopher, Dominique, Brittney, Savannah and Elishah. She was also the proud great grandma of Yahya, Kamalu, Abiona and Yewende.
Betty is preceded in death by her husband James O Peterson Jr; parents, Florencio and Rebecca Sanchez and her brother, Raymond Sanchez along with the passing a few months back of her daughter- in- law Chanta Peterson.
Memorial Mass Thursday, October 20, 2022, 11:00 a.m., Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church, Price. Family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to services. Committal service Price City Cemetery, Price. Lunch will be served at the Hope Center after the graveside blessing. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home where friends are welcome to share memories at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.