Shawn Thais Peterson

Shawn Thais Peterson was born Aug. 9, 1960, in Missoula. She died peace fully in her sleep June 25, 2007 in Billings. She was the eldest daughter of Kenneth and Cherye Peterson. She was known as "Thais" to friends and family, "Ms. P" to the many students she taught, Aunt Thais to her 13 nieces and nephews and "sister and friend" to her sisters and brothers.
Thais graduated from Billings West High School in 1978. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in English in 1987. She served a mission for her church in the Spain, Seville mission, hence she spoke Spanish fluently. She attended law school in Michigan, but her health deteriorated so she moved back home to Billings. She found the strength to go back to school and obtained a teaching certificate from Rocky Mountain College. Teaching would prove to be her greatest love. She became an English teacher, first at Billings West High School and then long-term at Laurel High School. She briefly lived in Texas and helped home-school the Ballard children. She then returned to Billings, where she lived until her death.
She had a strong will that kept her from compromising her principles. Utilizing those principles, Thais forever influenced the lives of the people she knew. As a missionary, friend, sister, daughter, mentor, confidant and especially as an aunt and a teacher. The latter are the two roles she loved most. Simply knowing Thais made you a better person. Many students and others who were taught and counseled by Thais stated that she changed their lives forever.
Thais had an incredible singing voice. The power in her voice would, in her own words, "make your heart pound in your chest." To hear Thais sing was a special and inspirational treat. Her wonderful talent will remain with all who heard it.
Although Thais had no children of her own, many children and young people she came in contact with considered her "mom." She was forever "there" for anyone who needed someone to talk to.
The light of her life were her nieces and nephews, whom she devoted her soul to. They knew they could go to her at any time of the day and night and talk, laugh, sing or cry with her. They never doubted how much she loved them.
Thais suffered great physical pain throughout much of her adult life, which drained her of physical strength, but not her will to help other in any way possible.
She will be greatly missed.
She is survived by her parents, Kenneth D. and Cherye L. Peterson; her siblings, Colleen (Jim) Feltis, Nicole Cattaneo, Lynette (David) Ballard, Kasia (Justin) Hampton and Kirk Peterson; her nieces, Lisa Fuller, Tallia, Hannah and Abby Feltis, Helen, Anne and Emma Ballard; her nephews, Tel Cattaneo, Sam Feltis, Pete, Vincent and Joesph Ballard and Miles Hampton. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Clarence and Gladys Peterson and Paul Dredge and ReElla Foster, and by her brother Jason Peterson.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, June 30, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Monad Chapel, 3595 Monad Road.
Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary has charge of arrangements.

This obituary was originally published in the Billings Gazette.