Joyce Peterson

Joyce Nielsen Baxter Peterson, 86, passed away from natural causes on Saturday morning, April 30, 2011, in her home with her loving daughter by her side. She was born on Feb. 3, 1925, to Grant Smuin and Gladys Lundberg Nielsen. She was the oldest of seven children and spent her childhood in Hyrum, where she attended Lincoln Elementary School and graduated from South Cache High School.

On Sept 18, 1944, she married William Max Baxter in the Logan LDS Temple. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Southern California where they were both employed by the Kraft Foods Company. It was while living in California that their first child, a daughter, was born. After a few years in sunny California, Max and Joyce returned to Hyrum where they spent the rest of their lives. Their second child, a son was born in 1952. Max passed away from a sudden heart attack in 1960, at the age of 39, leaving Joyce to raise two young children.

Joyce married Dean J. Peterson in 1966, in the Logan LDS Temple. Dean provided our mother with 32 years of love, support and companionship which we will always be grateful for. He passed away in 1997.

She also worked for the F & W Woolworth store in Logan, and for many years in the office of E. A. Miller and Sons Packing Company in Hyrum. She has been a life long member of the LDS church. For 60 years, she met regularly with a group of local lady friends for “Club”.

Christmas, Thanksgiving, and the Fourth of July were always favorites for her family. On these occasions she would prepare a wonderful meal for the extended family. We all looked forward to her homemade cookies, candy, and her delicious potato salad.

She is survived by her children, Vicky (Grover) Smith and Kerry (Pamela) Baxter both of Hyrum. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Shawn (Jocelyn) Casey and boys, Weston and Hunter, Millville, Shannon (Brandyn) Boehme and girls, Taylor, Tyler and Tara, Nibley, Michelle (Wes) Nielsen and girls, Megan and Sarah, Jason Baxter, Jennifer Baxter all of Hyrum, Heather Baxter, Salt Lake City. Siblings: Charlene (Mel Roy) Larsen, Carolyn (Boyd) Jensen, Cardell (Debbie) Nielsen all of Hyrum, and Arla Dene (Theo) Thomson, Logan. In-law’s, Arlene Hall, Devoy (Colleen) Baxter both of Hyrum, Beverly (Leroy) Heineken, St. George, Esther Nielsen-Barker, Bountiful, and many nieces and nephews.

She is proceeded in death by her parents and husbands, brother, Garth D. Nielsen, sister, Varrell Nielsen, father- in-law and mother- in-law, William S. and Sarah P. Baxter, sister- in-law and brother- in-law, Leta and Melvin Liljenquist, brother- in-law, Jack D. Hall.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Allen-Hall Mortuary and prior to the services on Wednesday from 10:30 to 11:30 AM at the church. Funeral service will be held at 12:00 PM on Wednesday, May 4, 2011 in the Hyrum 5th Ward Chapel, 245 North Apple Drive. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net

Interment will be in the Hyrum City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Humanitarian Aid Fund of the LDS Church.

We would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Robert M.. Nash and Dr. Edward H. Redd and to the staff of Alpine Home Care and Hospice, especially Mary Kay and Mindi, for their compassionate care.