Lois Larsen "Poison" Peterson

August 5, 1948 - December 2, 2011

In My Own Words, I was the 10th child of Glen L. Larsen and Reva Kathleen Atherley. Mother wasn't happy when I came along. She was 40 and hoping her child rearing years were over. She thought she would pretend it wasn't so and it wouldn't be so. She could not ignore me and I did not go away. I am real, a real pain but real anyway. My birth was so easy she kept saying "I don't deliver this easy there has to be a mistake." That is the first and last time mother had it easy with me, for you see I was a real challenge to raise. And for Dad, he nicknamed me Poison, he said it in a loving way, but with a smile on his face. I was born in Provo but my childhood was in Eureka. Pete Sorenson of Eureka told me, Glen and Reva had the prettiest girls in the world each one getting prettier which made me the prettiest. We all knew Lola was known as the pretty one, but thanks Pete and Larry. I ran the hills of Eureka until we moved to Provo. Mother always threatened to call Joe Bernini (the town cop) if we went over the crest of the hill. She was good at using fear to make us obey. It was very hard for me to leave my mountain and settle in Provo. I met Larry Peterson in the summer of my sophomore year at Provo High School. Carol and I were shopping and went into the spud nut shop for a treat. Larry and his buddy Wayne were behind the counter. They began talking about the opposite girl and the chase was on. Larry married me and Wayne married Carol. Larry and I dated for over 3 years. We dated for about a month when it was my birthday, he thought I was going to be 16 and when he found out I was 14 he quit me for a week. We were married January 22, 1965 in my parent's home. Our marriage was solemnized in the temple a few years later. We had been married for about a week when the police came to our door and arrested Larry for back child support. We had dated 3 years and when Larry wasn't at work he was with me or there might have been a doubt about my future. It was another Larry Peterson they wanted but it happened twice more. We went to Wyoming for employment for U.S. Energy Corp. then back to Provo. I learned our Bishop had adopted a baby from Seattle, Washington. Larry and I had learned we could not have children. This was devastating to me because in my family everyone produced young every other year. Life was so sad for me until one day a phone call came from Seattle, Washington. They had a new born baby boy. Would I like to have him? We made that Pontiac fly to Seattle, Washington. We met our 1st son Larry Dean, 17 July 1967. What joy, what love my life was complete I thought. When we tried to adopt again abortion had caused the slaughter of unborn babies. I was devastated again. But a few years later our little Larry Dean came into our bedroom with the biggest smile. "You are going to have a baby brother for me. I saw him in a dream." Yes a few weeks later I was pregnant but it was a little girl. Bridget, 31 August 1972. When I brought her home to Larry Dean he said "Yep that was the baby in my dream now get me my brother." Two years later we got him his brother Danial John, 3 September 1974. Larry Dean I know prayed them out of heaven. Larry Dean had a sister and a brother but his quiet was gone. Next came our Kevin Lloyd, 26 June 1976. Dan couldn't say Kevin. Kevin called him cub. He was just like a cub bear you couldn't be near him without kissing him all over. He was killed in an auto accident, 31 May 1990. Just before his 16th birthday. Then our final miracle Justin Laurance, 21 January 1981. I was told my miracles were over but here he was. He never wore any hair off his head because they were always holding him. The only way I got to hold him was to bath, dress and feed him. All my children were here and now they are creating babes of their own. Larry married Veronica have Joseph and Stephen. Bridget married Dusty Mott and have Zackary and Makayla (deceased), then divorced. But Bridget met Vincent Gillespie and they have Hunter and Adrianna. Danial married Susan and brought Kalab and Jesse with her and they have Ashley. Justin and Lindsay have Tristan but now he is married to Amber and they have Alecia. What a wonder life I have had rearing my children and grandchildren. Larry died in September 2005 leaving me alone for the 1st time in my life. I have worked at Stoffers for 20 years and live in my precious hometown of Eureka. I don't like my new life but perhaps my talents and family will see me through. I love my family. I love my extended family. All the people Laurence and Corty Larsen created and helped grow together – uncles, aunts, and cousins by the dozens. My Larsens I know will be ok until we are at our eternal family reunion. I love you all! Lois is survived by her 4 children: Dean (Veronica) and their child Joseph who is in the MTC, Danial and his daughter Ashley and Dan of Eureka, Bridget (Vince – deceased) and their children Zackary, Makayla (deceased), Hunter, Adrianna, Luke, Chase, Isaiah, Justin (Amber) and their children Alecia and Tristan of Eureka. She is survived by her siblings: Marian (Sharon) of Provo, Carol (Wayne) of Meadow and Glennis (Hugh – deceased) of Boise. She is also survived by close family friends Casey and continued... 1 2 Next ...continued Brooke Brailsfort of Spanish Fork. Preceded in death by Larry K Peterson, Kevin Lloyd Peterson, Makayla Ann Mott, and Vincent Lee Gillespie. Lois was talented in a variety of ways - an oil painter, porcelain artist, quilter, and seamstress. Her compassion was just a daily way of life. Every day she created humanitarian gifts to bless the lives of people all over the world. "A man filled with the LOVE of GOD is not content with blessing his family alone but… ranges the whole world anxious to bless the whole human race" – Joseph Smith. Previous 1 2