Don Lemoine Peterson, age 92, passed away April 20, 2022, in Park City, Utah. He was born at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah on June 7, 1929 to Vadal Peterson and Elvira Wood. Don was the youngest of five children, 4 boys and one girl. (Vadal, Laura, Ray, and Wood) Don graduated from the University of Utah, joined the Air Force and learned to fly. After four years he returned to Utah, joined the Utah Air National Guard, where he served for 26 years. During the early period of his return to Utah, he began to fly for Frontier Airlines. In 1955 he became a pilot for Western Airlines and flew for them until they merged with Delta. He continued as a senior pilot with Delta until he retired in 1989.
Don always loved to fly and continued after his retirement to fly small planes and joined the World Beechcraft Society. He and his wife attended many fly-ins and made many friends throughout the country. Post retirement he worked as a simulator instructor for Morris Airlines. Don was an avid skier and loved to fish. He traveled to Alaska every year to a fishing camp and brought home the spoils. He and his wife belonged to the Saturday Night Dance Club and the Delta Pioneers. He babied his dog Coco who came to live with him after his brother Wood Peterson passed away.
Don is survived by three daughters from his first marriage, Pamela, Sherrie, and Karrie. He has nine grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren. In 1988 Don remarried Annette (Toni) Cefalu and they lived happily for 34 years. Don related well to his stepson Michael Fabri who has a daughter Alexandria.
Funeral services will be held at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park on Saturday April 30, 2022 at 1 pm. No flowers please. Donations may be made in memory of Don to any kind animal rescue or adoption agency.
