Erma “Irene” Boam Petersen, 94, peacefully passed from this earthly existence to join with so many of her loved ones, who she was very excited to be with and meet, early in the morning of Feb.18, at home in Spanish Fork, with her beloved husband at her side.
Irene was born at her parent’s home on Aug. 22, 1926 in Big Cottonwood City, to George Boam and Erma Amanda Carlisle Boam. Her family later moved to Logan.
While there, at age 8, she was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Logan Temple baptismal font. At the age of 9, October 1935, the family moved to Dayton, where Irene lived until she graduated from high school. During high school, she also went to a cosmetology school and became a licensed beautician so she could work in her mother’s beauty salon.
After high school graduation she attended Brigham Young University. After her first year of college, she went home to Dayton for the summer where she met Elder Petersen who was serving his mission in the Ohio area. Elder Petersen asked Irene to write him since she would soon be returning to BYU. While back in Utah, she was hoping that Elder Petersen would try to find her when he returned home to Utah from his mission. He did find her and that is when their loving relationship began. Her sincere dedicated prayers were answered as she started her life with her eternal sweetheart. She always said she prayed him into her life. Irene married Joseph Claine Petersen on May 25, 1949 in the Logan Temple.
Prayer was an integral part of their lives. From the day of their marriage, they knelt down together to pray each morning and each evening as a couple. After evening prayers, kneeling at the bedside, Claine would tuck Irene into bed. When Claine became wheelchair-bound 3 years ago, he continued to tuck mom into bed. When both Irene and Claine became bedbound, they would hold hands and say their prayers as they lay in their separate hospital beds, even to the very last night of Irene’s time here on the earth.
Marriage and Claine’s career brought many wonderful opportunities for Irene and the family. They lived in Salt Lake City and Bountiful until 1961, then moved to Wilmington, Del. for three years, during which time she had the privilege of singing with the LDS Eastern States Relief Society Singing Mothers in a concert at the New York World’s Fair in 1964. They then moved to Laramie, Wyoming until retirement in 1991 when they moved to Loveland, Colorado. In 2015 Irene and Claine moved to Omaha to live with their daughter and son-in-law, Claudia and Brian Stimpson to get the care they needed because of failing health. The Petersens and Stimpsons moved to Spanish Fork in 2017. Irene and Claine cherished their time in Loveland, Colo., because of the wonderful loving friendships they formed there; and Claine called the climate in Loveland the “garden of Eden,” compared to Laramie.
As a devoted helpmeet and homemaker, Irene experienced some of her greatest joys while serving her family. She enjoyed making clothes for her children when they were young, knitting sweaters and booties for the new grandchildren, and they all got a beautiful quilt. Her grandchildren will tell anyone that grandma made the best French bread and rolls. Not only did she lovingly serve her family here on the earth, but she dedicated many hours to serving hundreds of her extended family members who had passed on generations before. Irene’s love for family history was surely remarkable. She got to know the people she served and couldn’t wait to see them face-to-face.
Service in the church was always accepted with gratitude and humility whether in Relief Society, Primary, Sunday School, Family History or Young Women’s. She especially cherished her years of serving with Claine in the House of the Lord at the Denver Temple, and helping Claine teach temple preparation lessons. Irene will be sorely missed and remembered with cherished, fond, fun, and loving memories.
Irene is survived by her loving husband, Joseph “Claine” Petersen of Spanish Fork, children, Brent (Terri) Petersen, Holladay; Claudia (Brian) Stimpson, Spanish Fork; Warren (Kathy) Petersen, Loveland, Colo.; Anne Herbst, Payson; 18 grandchildren; 56 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; brother-in-law, Glen (ReVoe) Petersen, Provo; sister-in-law Arlene MacFarlane, East Garland; sister-in-law Marguerite Petersen, Bountiful; sister-in-law Marie (Milton) Bywater, Fielding; numerous dearly loved nieces and nephews and their families. For Irene, life was all about family.
Services for Claine and Irene were held in Fielding on March 20. To leave condolences and share memories of Irene, go to www.legacyfunerals.com
