Lawrence H. Peterson's Obituary
Lawrence H. Peterson was born May 7, 1921 at Montrose, Iowa, son of Henry August Peterson and Georgia Anne Petty. He died December 3, 2010 at age 89 in Tacoma. He grew up on a farm and went to the Oak Grove country grade school and graduated from Montrose High School in 1939. In 1942, at the age of 21, Lawrence joined the U.S.ENavy and was a Motor Machinist Mate 3rd Class. He served aboard the USSEThomas Jefferson for 3 years where he was an engineer on a LCVPElanding craft. He was in five invasions: Sicily, July 9, 1943, Salerno, Sept. 9, 1943, Normandy, June 6, 1944, Southern France, August 15, 1944, and Okinawa, April 1, 1945. Larry received an Honorable Discharge onENovember 21, 1945. Larry attended the Lutheran Bible Institute in Seattle for two years. He worked in building construction and was a commercial fisherman and a longshoreman before graduating from Pacific Lutheran College (PLU) in 1954. He taught 25 years in the Tacoma Public Elementary Schools. Larry was a 52 year member of The Mountaineers, Tacoma Branch. He met Wilma Shannon in the Mountaineers and they were married on August 24, 1963. They climbed the six major peaks in Washington and hiked and backpacked in the mountains of the Western United States. They also backpacked in Alaska over Chilkoot Pass on the 75th and 100th anniversaries of the Gold Rush. They traveled with tours and on their own to countries on six continents including to the Omaha Beach Ceremony on the 50th Anniversary of D-Day. Larry also attended yearly reunions of the USSEThomas Jefferson and the Peterson - Testman family. Larry is survived by his wife Wilma, sisters Evelyn Pierce and Joyce Peterson, brothers Wendell and Leslie Peterson and nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by sisters Ruby Peterson and Fern Haugrud and brothers Ernest and Merton Peterson. Larry was a member of the American Legion Post 2, becoming Commander in 2001. He also was a member of the Navy League, Tacoma Council; the VFW Post 10018 and the Maintsream Republicans. He attended St. Mark's Lutheran Church by The Narrows where he was a member. Donations may be given to American Legion Post 2, St. Mark's Lutheran Church or to the charity of your choice. Services will be at Mountain View Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 15, 2010, with viewing at 9-11a.m. A graveside service at 11:30 a.m., and a Memorial Service at 2:30 p.m., in the Aspen Chapel.
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