DOWNEY, Idaho — Former Bridger Valley resident David Junior Petersen, 90, was born on March 18, 1931, and passed away on July 27, 2021, from complications sustained in an accident on the family farm in Downey, Idaho, where he was residing with his wife and son.
Junior grew up on the Petersen ranch southeast of Lyman. He attended school in Lyman and graduated from Lyman High School in 1949, where he earned a full-ride wrestling scholarship to BYU. Sadly, he was only able to attend for a short time. As the oldest of five children, he was called home to the ranch to care for his mother and younger siblings when his father suddenly passed away. He met Lois Perry from Robertson and they were married on Dec. 11, 1958. When her parents wished to retire, Junior and Lois took over the running of the Robertson ranch in addition to the ranch in Lyman.
Junior was a strong believer in community. He served as a ditch rider for many years and as a member of the Blacks Fork Canal Company. He also spent time on the boards of the Soil Conservation Service, Uinta County Farm Bureau and the Bridger Valley Electric Association. Junior loved his horses and many of his activities centered around them. He was a cutter racer, a pickup man at local rodeos and a participant in many jackpot ropings. Junior served as a horse steward for many yeas at the Uinta County Fair. He was a part of the Pony Express reenactment and a member of the Uinta County Search and Rescue.
Junior loved all of his four-footed friends, but he was especially fond of his draft horses, both those he raised and those he acquired by other means. He always had a team of two and fed cows with them for many years for his neighbors and other people before four-wheel tractors were available. Junior took his horses on wagon treks, put them in parades, and had a pulling team he entered in contests. He did veterinary work in the Valley before there was one here. People called when something needed done because they knew they could count on him. Junior was one of the designers and builders of the Lyman Rodeo Grounds and part of the construction crew that built the current Mountain View High School.
He is survived by his wife, Lois, of 61-plus years; one daughter, Tressa Petersen Tripp; one son, David Perry Petersen; and two grandsons, William Tripp and Garie Tripp. Interment will be at the Fort Bridger Cemetery. There will be a graveside memorial service at 11:30 a.m. on August 28. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to the Uinta County Search and Rescue.
