David Francis Petersen
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David Francis Petersen, 90, shed his earthly bonds into the arms of the Lord on January 27,
2020, at HopeWest Care Center surrounded by family.
Dave was born in Marysville, California on February 17, 1929, to Edlef and Alice (Hull)
Petersen. He grew up and went to school at Montgomery Creek and Shasta Union High School
in Redding, California. Dave was the second of eight children. He had four sisters, Eloise,
Katherine, Susan, and Rebecca (Becky), as well as three brothers, Arthur (Mickey), Robert, and
Jess.
Dave married Patricia Kay Brockman, August 29, 1958, and they had four children. They
moved to Montrose, Colorado in 1975 where he lived until 2019 when he moved to Grand
Junction. Dave and Pat divorced in 1977. Dave married Cora Yeakel, that union ended in
divorce; there were no children, but Dave was a father to Cora's daughter Laura and remained in
contact with her the rest of his life.
Dave was in the armed services and served in Korea in the 1950's; after returning home he went
to work as a logger and ultimately owned his own successful logging company in California.
Dave was an entrepreneur and, upon moving to Montrose, started Petersen's Sporting Goods
store as well as re-establishing his Petersen Timber Company. He kept his timber business
operational and worked in the woods until he was 88 years old. He was well respected by many
in the community and was sought out by the Forest Service for his knowledge of the timber
industry, forest health and good forestry practices. He received a Certificate of Appreciation
from the U. S. Department of Agriculture in 2006 for 30 years of "cleaning up the forest." He
loved the great outdoors and spent many happy hours hunting and fishing.
Dave is survived by three of his children and their spouses; Theresa L. (Jay) Babajan of Burney,
California, Orville F. (Bonnie) Petersen of Grand Junction, Colorado, Tricia K. (Gary) Vance of
Grand Junction, Colorado and daughter-in-law Angie M. Petersen of Holden, Missouri. He is
survived by12 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters Susan
Ball, Becky Becker, and brother Jess Lattin.
Dave was preceded in death by son Jason M. Petersen, sisters Eloise Williams, Katherine Caton
and brothers, Robert Petersen and Mickey Petersen and his parents.
A celebration of Dave's life will be held Saturday, February 8, 2020, 10:30 am at Crippin
Funeral Home, 802 E Main St, Montrose, CO 81401. Memorial Contributions can be made to
the Museum of the Mountain West, 68169 Miami Rd, Montrose, CO 81401, or HopeWest
Hospice, 3090 North 12th Street, #B, Grand Junction, CO 81506.