Stanley Keith Petersen

1933 - 2025

Dr. S. Keith Petersen

1933 ~ 2025

Salt Lake City, UT-Dr. S. Keith Petersen passed away February 3, 2025, in Salt Lake City, UT.

Keith was born in Salt Lake City, Utah October 3, 1933, the son of Elizabeth Hughes Petersen and Jesse Richard Petersen. He had a wonderful childhood growing up in a ranching family in Cache Valley. From his mother's influence he developed an early love of reading and learning. He graduated from Utah State University in 1955 where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.

He left Utah to attend medical school at Northwestern University in Chicago graduating in 1959 as a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. After receiving his M.D., he served an internship and residency at the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, the first medical school in America. He loved the history and traditions there.

He continued his specialty training at the University of Utah where he met his future wife, Barbara Cook. They were married in Salt Lake City on July 2, 1964. The marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple. Shortly after the marriage they left for New York City where they lived while Keith completed a fellowship at New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center. They returned to Salt Lake City where they made their home and raised their two children.

S. Keith is well remembered as a practicing physician at the Salt Lake Clinic and LDS Hospital specializing in internal medicine and gastroenterology. He was also very involved in medical leadership in the state. He served as staff president of the LDS Hospital, President of Salt Lake County Medical Society, and President of the Utah State Medical Association. Later in his career he became the medical director of Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Utah where he enjoyed working with the people there. Keith would like to be remembered as a doctor who loved the practice, history and traditions of his profession. He enjoyed making people feel more comfortable with the spontaneity of his sense of humor.

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he enjoyed serving in the hospital branch of the LDS Hospital helping with the Sunday services and visiting the sick. Home teaching while living in the east was also a special experience where members were widely scattered and appreciative of the visits.

Throughout his life he had many opportunities with his wife and family to travel to many interesting places in the world. During his retirement years the family spent many summers in their Teton Valley home. Papa loved taking the grandchildren on nature walks where they admired the many wildflowers and animal tracks in the fields.

Keith was preceded in death by his parents, son Edward Mark and brothers Richard Hughes and Larry F. Petersen. He is survived by his wife Barbara, daughter Sara Elizabeth Thomas (Matthew), grandchildren Bridger Lowe, Alta Grace, Sage Elizabeth, Aspen Snow Thomas and his brother Don R. Petersen.

In lieu of flowers the family invites donations to the Intermountain Healthcare Research and Medical Foundation. https://intermountainhealthcare.org/give

At the family's request there will be no funeral service. Instead, there will be a viewing on Monday, February 10 from 6-8pm at Larkin Sunset Lawn 2350 E. 1300 S. Salt Lake City and a graveside service and interment at 12pm on Tuesday, February 11 at the Hyrum City Cemetery 525 E Main St, Hyrum, Utah.