Vicki Larsen Peterson

"I had such a happy childhood."
When Mom's parents, Jay Raphael and Naomi Valora (Nielson) Larsen, were expecting her, they saw a movie where the lead actress was named Vicki. Her dad decided if they had a girl, that would be her name.
Vicki Larsen Peterson left heaven on March 27, 1943, and was welcomed by her excited parents and an older brother, Jay R. Mom's happy childhood was spent with her best friends, her sisters: Lana, Karen, Kay, and Janaye. Together, with many cousins, they often gathered at her Nielson grandparents, listening to her mother's family practice music. The Nielson Family Orchestra played venues all across Idaho. Sunday dinner was at the Nielson grandparents followed by a drive to Idaho Falls to visit the Larsen grandparents. Mom loved the stop for black licorice ice cream cones on the way home.
"I was awed by Brent's testimony and inherent goodness from the start."
Mom met Dad, Brent J. Peterson, at a church youth party, which was apropos since much of their life was spent at Church: singing in the ward choir, performing duets in Sacrament Meeting, and attending the temple. They attended Firth High School together where Mom participated as both a majorette in a blue and white uniform and a cheerleader. They were married September 2, 1959, and were sealed in the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple, with a promise of eternity. Their loving courtship continued throughout their sixty years together, standing as an example to their children and grandchildren. In one of Dad's poems, he wrote, "her love can reach clear to my soul. Her acceptance and giving, building, making my life whole."
After some time at Utah State in Logan, Utah, they began farming in dusty Raft River, Idaho, with Grandpa Peterson. Mom brought six daughters in a row to the world: Sherri (Mike), Lori Lin (Glen), Camille (Gerald), Regina, Tiffany (Tonga), and Nicole, followed by three sons: John Brent (Julie), Blake Larsen (Sean), and Brent Glade (Amber). Mom was usually in the kitchen cooking her delicious specialties: Butter Baked Chicken and Gravy and Roast Beef with Mashed Potatoes. But she would help Dad with the harvest by driving truck. It was an adventure to ride with her on a trip to the beet dump.
In 1976, the family moved to Declo, and they also lived in Springdale until Dad's passing in 2021. While Mom would have preferred to stay home and bake chocolate sheet cake, she supported Dad in his farming adventures living in far off places like the Republic of Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, South Dakota, and Montana. Mom's tender care of Dad was a testimony of their love.
"When I first heard the song, "Where Love Is," I couldn't wait to teach it."
Her foundation and training in music enriched many lives. Starting at age 12, she served as the Primary pianist assisting her mother who was the chorister. Later, she was the chorister and her daughters were the pianists. One of her favorite callings was serving as the Primary Stake Second Counselor where she attended workshops at Church headquarters and first heard her favorite Primary song: "Where Love Is." In her home, she taught piano lessons, sharing her love of music with many children. On many Saturday nights, we went to sleep hearing Mom at the piano, rehearsing with others to perform on Sunday.
"My favorite part of Christmas was designing and sewing special dresses for my daughters and granddaughters."
As the grandchildren began to arrive, Mom became Grandmother extraordinaire. She hosted Grandma Weeks during the summer, spoiling grandkids in batches. An excellent seamstress, Mom would take two or three patterns and create her own designs of baby dresses, baptism capes, Christmas dresses, and prom dresses. She loved to attend as many musical recitals, ball games, baptisms, and temple endowments as she could. Her beautiful smile was what the grandchildren looked for in the audience. As the hostess for the legendary, three-day Thanksgiving celebration, she not only served a dinner beyond compare, but organized bingo games, talent shows, Chinese checkers, and lots of snuggles on the couch.
As a young girl, she enjoyed taking an apple and a new book to read under a tree on a summer afternoon. She shared that love of reading while working as a librarian for twenty years at Declo Junior High School. In this capacity, she provided a safe haven for students who needed a grandmother to listen to them. Mom also participated in the community through forty years of membership in the Declo Book Club and the Domestic Duchesses Homemaking Club.
"My favorite place to be is the temple."
With her eternal companion, Mom served two missions in the Tennessee Nashville Mission and served as an ordinance worker in the Twin Falls Idaho Temple. As promised in her patriarchal blessing, she found joy in ancestral research and the completion of temple ordinances. No matter how far away Mom and Dad traveled, or how different the culture, Mom could talk to the people and help them feel the love of the Savior.
When it was time to move to Lehi, Utah, to be around family, it was hard to leave her many neighbors and ward friends, but Mom was excited when the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple opened up two miles away. One of her last wishes was to return to Idaho and attend the Burley, Idaho Temple Open House with all of her family. Mom reached her hands out to join with Dad in the early morning of August 20, 2025. Her nine children, 31 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren rejoice to picture Mom and Dad dancing again through eternity.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 26, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Springdale 2nd Ward, located at 519 East 200 South, in Burley, with Bishop Matthew L. Monroe officiating. Burial will follow at Declo Cemetery.
Family and friends will be received from 5 until 7 p.m. Monday, August 25, at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, 1350 East 16th Street, in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, at the church.
A webcast of the funeral service will be available and maintained at rasmussenwilson.com.