Thanks for coming to see me.
Obituary
Donald "Don" James Peterson, a geophysicist, golfer, crossword finisher, and devoted husband, father, and grandfather, died peacefully at home on Sunday evening, October 4, 2026, at the age of 94.
Don was born in Graceville, Minnesota, on November 17, 1931, the second of five children of Henning and Bertha Peterson. The family lived in Ortonville and Duluth, where Henning worked as a pipe fitter and Bertha was a homemaker. Don spent boyhood summers on his grandfather's farm, where he was driving a tractor by age 10. In Duluth, he caddied at Enger Park, where his lifelong love of golf began, and played basketball on outdoor courts through below-zero winters.
After graduating from Denfeld High School in 1949, Don enrolled at the University of Minnesota Duluth to study civil engineering. His studies were interrupted by service in the U.S. Army in Korea, where he rose to the rank of sergeant. After his discharge in 1954, he switched to geology and earned his bachelor's degree.
In 1956, Don joined Texaco as a geophysicist and was assigned to the Forsyth, Montana, office, where he met Vanda Hough, the girl who wouldn't give him the time of day, until she did. They were married on August 8, 1957, at the Federated Church in Forsyth. Over a 32-year career, Don's work took the family to Denver, Casper, Houston, and finally Los Angeles, where he retired as West Coast Geophysical Manager. He was proudest of bringing 3-D surveys and computerized mapping to his division. He then spent several years as a geological engineer with the State Water Resources Control Board.
Don and Vanda made their home in Fountain Valley in 1967 and never left. For decades, their house hosted holiday dinners, card games, golf lessons, baseball, and dinners in the backyard. Don also had a dry sense of humor that left people wondering whether he was serious or kidding. According to his son Randy, he was almost always kidding.
He was an avid reader who believed everyone should read Tom Sawyer for its mix of adventure and problem-solving. He encouraged people to think for themselves and to do their math in their heads. He finished his crossword puzzle every day and never missed Garrison Keillor on Saturday nights. For more than 50 years, he played golf every week with his close friends at Mesa Verde Country Club, well into his 80s. After retirement, he and Vanda traveled to many countries, but Don always preferred a road trip to see family and celebrate life's milestones in person.
A lifelong Lutheran, Don was most recently a member of King of Glory Lutheran Church. He believed that being a grandparent is God's reward for growing old.
Don is survived by his wife of 69 years, Vanda; sons Jim of Costa Mesa and Randy of Carlsbad; daughter Cynthia (Erik) of Westlake Village; his sister, Sharon Stenson; six granddaughters, Lauren, Layne, Kelsey, Bailey, Raegan, and Macey; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers Richard, Roger, and Gary.
A small private service will be held on Don's birthday, November 17, at Mesa Verde Country Club. Friends are invited and encouraged to please share memories below.
Gallery
Memory wall
"Who does this be?"
Baseball in the backyard,
Golf on the television.
Hunting for snails in the garden,
Rocking in your hammock while you finished your crossword puzzles and sipped on bottomless black coffee.
We all got our love of coffee from you.
And our deep love for Mexican food.
Ice cream after school pickups.
Walks to the dollar store and bike rides to the park.
The countless times we just hopped the fence or got caught trespassing...
Because you always blazed your own trail. Confidently, but never for show.
I remember hearing stories about swimming across lakes growing up and hitchhiking home.
You reminded us of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.
You had a love for Alaska and London in particular. I treasure the memories we shared from trips together and recommendations shared when traveling on my own.
You were one of the hardest working men I know.
You were always there to support and cheered us along the way.
Plus, you always kept us on our toes.
"Once when I was an airplane.."
"Alright. I'm turning into a pumpkin now.."
"How many spankings should you get for your birthday?"
You'd say every joke with a straight face then smirk when we realized you were playing jokes.
"How's my Casey?"
You were one of two or three who stuck with that nickname and ran with it. It felt like one special just from you.
This morning I was thinking about what I have that will be a keepsake of yours as a tangible memory, then the Lord reminded me of our two little loves..
Bright blue eyes,
Beautiful, both of them.
Bold like the sky
And deep like the ocean.
Not only from my guy and I,
but they got their eyes from you,
I got my eyes from you.
An entry way into the soul.
What a gift forever cherished.
I will keep telling them about you,
When their memories fade from their visits to your backyard. They will know about the impact you've made.
You really were the salt of the earth.
You loved the beach.
You loved the green.
You rarely ever had shoes on, because I'm convinced you were one with the God's gorgeous earth.
Grateful. Absolutely grateful for anything, even the lousiest meal..you truly thought it was the best, because you were grateful for a meal.
Growing up in the Great Depression, serving our country, working hard, loving well, raising a family, faithful to the Lord. You demonstrated what it was like to be diligent and devoted.
Brilliant. You remembered the first and last names of nearly everyone you met and could do math in your head like no one's business..and taught my dad to do the same.
Even if it might have been to gain your approval in dating your only daughter, it worked!!
Love. You adored your wife and children and the families they created. You always cherished your grands and little greats. And loved our guys like they were your own. You were steadfast and faithful. You loved and loved well.
Every visit ended with a, "thanks for coming to see me!" And each phone call simply saying, "love!"
I could go on for days and days, and I know I will..because your legacy has already outlasted you and will continue to.
So,
"Thanks for coming to see me!"
You were a true gift to this world.
What a blessing it was for you to be earthside for 94 years.
So much life you've lived,
So much of the world you've seen.
So much we learned from you and will hold onto.
We will miss you deeply.
But I feel like Eternity has a different way of telling time, so I'm sure we will see you soon.
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