Courtney Thomas Peterson

November 3, 1933 — October 28, 2022

Courtney was born in Sandwich, Illinois - the second of six children born to Arthur and Marguerite Peterson. His childhood was spent in Newark, Illinois, a small farming community made up of primarily Norwegian immigrants, although his parents were both born in the United States. Courtney was active in sports, particularly basketball and baseball while in high school where he also held office on the student council.

Upon Courtney's graduation, his family moved to a suburb of Cleveland Ohio. Courtney attended his first year of college at Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio.

Courtney's family then moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1952 for health reasons after only a year in Ohio.

Courtney enlisted in the Air Force and completed his basic training in Texas before being sent to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. While stationed in Alaska, Courtney's father met with an untimely death by virtue of an automobile accident. Courtney got a hardship discharge to return to Colorado Springs to help his mother run their family owned auto dealership and look after his younger siblings who were still at home. Once the business was sold, Courtney decided to return to college, this time at the University of Northern Colorado where he got both a bachelor's and master's degree in business.

Courtney then went to work for Traveler's Insurance in Denver, Colorado. A few years later, he went to work for the Talbert Corporation where he went on to become the President and CEO of the company. The company was purchased by HRH, a nationwide organization, in 1996, but Courtney stayed on retaining his title of CEO until he retired in December of 2003 with having had completed 36 years of service with the company.

During his career, he managed to make time to participate in several sports that he always enjoyed skiing, golf, and tennis as well as travel — including a few trips to his native Norway to further explore his ancestry, and some fishing trips to Alaska as well some memorable hunting trips.

Upon his retirement, he joined the ranks of the "snowbirds" that flock to Arizona during the winter months. He first purchased a home in Sunland Village in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa and then later, a second home in Trilogy at Power Ranch in Gilbert. He pursued his love of golf (accumulating 6 Hole in One credits) and enjoyed time to spend with friends until the winter months 2022 at the age of 88 when medical issues dictated that he did not travel but remain in his primary residence in Castle Rock, CO where he had lived most of his adult life.

Courtney married Dorothy Jean Morgan on July 1, 1967, and out of this union three children were born. Courtney and Jean ultimately divorced in 1997. Courtney then married Barbara Catherine Lowell in 2002.

Courtney is survived by his ex-wife, Jean, his children Heather (Xiren Kenny), Eric Peterson (Kena) and their children, Karis, Zoey, and Reid, Kirk Peterson(Heidi) and their children, Brody and Cole, his wife, Barbara, and two stepsons, Tim Lowell (Cindi), their children Quincy, Finn, Conner, and Caprice, Levi Lowell (Chloe), and brothers, Cameron Peterson (Mary Lou), Ronald Peterson, and sisters Jeri Jo (Jim) Carstairs, Judy Ashton and several nieces and nephews. Courtney was preceded by in death by one sister, Linda, and his parents, Arthur and Marguerite Peterson.