Betty Jo Peterson

Obituary

Betty Jo Peterson passed away peacefully at home on September 28, 2026 at the age of 91, surrounded by her family. She was born on May 26, 1935 in Chicago, Illinois, to William and Ida Greenawalt. The oldest of four daughters, she grew up in Chicago then attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. After graduating college she moved to San Francisco, where she met and married Lewis Peterson who was completing his medical training there.

The couple moved to Salt Lake City where Lewis established his ophthalmology practice. Together, they raised a family of four children. They built a house together in 1964 where Betty Jo resided for the rest of her life. That home, with its flower gardens, pasture and towering trees, was the place that made her happiest in this world.

In 1994, after Lewis suffered a debilitating injury, Betty Jo cared for him lovingly until he passed away in 2000. In the years that followed, she lived a rich life cultivating her passions: quilting, playing tennis and spending time with her grandchildren. She was active and fully engaged with life to the end.

Betty Jo's primary focus was always on the well-being of others. Reluctant to talk too much about herself, she would draw out the stories of all those she interacted with, asking thoughtful questions and listening with interest to the details of the lives of everyone with whom she crossed paths. She put her interest in others into practice as well, whether it was through delivering meals for Meals on Wheels, donating generously to the charities she cared about, or simply lending a hand to a neighbor in need.

In recent years she surprised us all by meeting and falling in love with Franklin Johnson. The two spry nonagenarians married in November of 2025 and Betty Jo spent the last year of her life immersed in a joyful relationship with Franklin, who loved her dearly and cared for her through her final days. Together, Betty Jo and Franklin taught us so much about how to find joy, love and delight in life, even under difficult circumstances.

Betty Jo is survived by her husband Franklin Johnson; by her four children Anna Peterson of Missoula, Montana; Peter Peterson of Salt Lake City, Utah; Susan Pfeiffenberger of Seward, Alaska; and Lewis Peterson of Los Angeles, California; by her sisters Nancy Washburn of Seattle, Washington, and Susan Williamson of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and by 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Photo/Quilt Gallery

As many of you know, Betty Jo was an avid quilter. She celebrated the people in her life and their milestones through the gift of quilts. She didn’t take many photos of her work, so if you were fortunate enough to receive a quilt from Betty Jo, we invite you to post a photo of it in the “Quilt Gallery” section below. You’re welcome to include yourself in the photo, too. We would love to create a lasting record of her beautiful work.

We’d love it if you added your favorite photos of Betty Jo here as well!

Gallery

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Memories

Memorial

Charity