Francis A. Peterson

Father Francis A. Peterson, 84, of Nampa died May 29, 2006 on the day before his 60th anniversary of priesthood. Vigil services will be held at 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 31, 2006, at St. Paul´s Catholic Church, Nampa. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Thursday, June 1, 2006, at St. Paul's Catholic Church, with burial following at Morris Hill Cemetery, Boise. Services are under the direction of Cloverdale Funeral Home. Father Peterson was born to David and Martha Weaver Peterson on December 20, 1921 in Weiser, Idaho; he was the 8th of 10 children. He moved to Boise in 1935 graduating from St. Teresa's Academy in 1939. He attended Conception College, Mo., and St. Edwards Seminary, Wash. and was ordained for the Diocese of Boise May 30, 1946 at St. John´s Cathedral, Boise by Bishop Edward J. Kelly. In his first seven years of priesthood he served as assistant at Holy Rosary, Idaho Falls, St. Alphonsus Parish, Wallace, St. Edward´s , Twin Falls, and St. Anthony´s, Pocatello. Hew as assigned as pastor at St. Peter´s, Preston, and mission in 1953. Other assignments as pastor included Mary Immaculate, St. Anthony, and missions, (1957); St. Ann´s, Bonners Ferry and Mission, (1963); Sacred Heart, Emmett, (1966); St. Hubert´s, Homedale, (1969); Our Lady of the Rosary, Boise, (1971); St. Agnes Parish, Weiser, and missions (1975); St. Peter´s Parish, Shoshone, 1980 and Holy Trinity Parish, Nezperce, 1985. He served as chaplain at the Veterans Administration Hospital, St. Luke´s Hospital and Elks Rehabilitation Hospital, Boise, 1979-80. Father Peterson´s special appointments in the Diocese of Boise included diocesan consultor, defender of the bond for his deanery, Holy Childhood Association diocesan director, and examiner and parish priest consultor. He retired in 1991 and lived in Nampa assisting at parishes wherever he was needed, including St. Vincent DePaul in Boise and Nampa. Eventually, for health reasons, Father Peterson moved to Karcher Estates in Nampa, where he lived when he died. Father Peterson was involved with ham radios. He was in Idaho Falls during the Yellowstone Earthquake that took out all phone line communications. Father Peterson had his ham radio and was the one to get out the communication during that time. He really liked working with anything to do with electronics in his spare time. Father Peterson was renowned for his faithfulness and his sensitivity to the needs of others. He is survived by one sister, Miriam David Peterson, C.S.C. of Boise; one brother, Richard H. Peterson of Alabama; several nieces, nephews, and one great-grand niece. He was preceded in death by three sisters and four brothers.