Peter Leon Hafen

Peter Leon Hafen, 87, returned to his Heavenly Father on June 11, 2025.

Born on June 2, 1938, Peter lived a remarkable life filled with adventure, hard work, and talents few could match. A master welder, mechanic, carpenter, farmer & blacksmith, Peter was known to be able to fix or build anything. If it was broken, he could make it work again—usually better than before.

In high school, Pete stood out as an athlete, known for his incredible speed and toughness in any sport he played. When a series of concussions put an end to his football dreams, Pete did what any determined young man would do—he started riding bulls in rodeos across the Sanpete Valley.

Music was another of Pete’s many gifts. He could play just about anything—including the saxophone, trumpet, piano, guitar, and banjo. He and his brother Donald—his lifelong sidekick and partner in crime—performed in a band called The 7 Hits & A Miss. They played for dances all over central and eastern Utah.

Pete was also a licensed barber who once cut hair in the legendary Hotel Utah. Later, he opened barber shops in both Provo and his hometown of Mount Pleasant. And if that wasn’t enough, he was also a talented baker—known for beautifully decorated cakes and delicious homemade pies.

On September 9, 1966, Peter married his sweetheart, Kathy Rigby Hafen. They were later sealed in the Manti Temple on August 9, 1977. Together, they raised three children—Michael, Laura, and Jon—and were blessed with 10 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

There’s so much more we could say about Peter Hafen. He was full of wisdom, loved his family unconditionally, & was gifted with a sense of humor that came with great advice often shared with us. To this end we finish with one of his favorite lines: “Never ride a bull backwards.” There’s a story behind that—and plenty of others that we’ll hold close to our hearts until we meet again.

Peter is survived by his sweetheart, Kathy Rigby Hafen, Son Michael,(Angie) Hafen, daughter Laura Hafen Johansen, & son Jon (Heather) Hafen.

Preceded in Death by Peter’s mother and father, Alice P. Hafen & Neil N. Hafen

Funeral services for Peter will include a viewing on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at the Rasmussen Mortuary, 96 N 100 W, Mount Pleasant.

A second viewing will be held Wednesday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 AM, followed by funeral services at 11:00 AM at the Mount Pleasant LDS North Stake Center, 461 N 300 W, Mount Pleasant. 

To Watch Recorded Funeral Service Click Here.

To Watch Recorded Graveside Service Click Here.