Sylvia Lee (Whittle) Petersen

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Meeting ID: 934 8389 0595

Sylvia Lee Whittle Petersen, 88, our beloved mother passed away peacefully at home on September 29, 2022. She was born on February 16, 1934, in Compton, California to Dudley Thomas Whittle and Edith Engra Olsen Whittle and was raised with her sisters who were her lifelong best friends, Melba Lynne (Dale Jarman) and Margaret Ann (Paul Palmer, deceased) on their family farm outside of Kimberly, Idaho.

She began her love of education at Bickel Elementary School in Kimberly and at Twin Falls Junior and Senior High Schools, then graduated with a B.A. in Elementary Education from Brigham Young University. She taught at Wasatch Elementary in Provo, Utah and Hawthorne Elementary in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Sylvia married Paul Johannes Petersen on December 21, 1955, in the Idaho Falls, Idaho Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He died on January 1, 2007.

Our mother, Sylvia, was devoted to her five children and was the most perfect mother for each one of us. She sang with us, read to us, taught us piano, encouraged our interests, and daily embodied her belief in and testimony of Jesus Christ.

She was an accomplished vocalist, sang for years with the Great Falls Symphonic Choir and was also a founding member of the Montana Chorale. She regularly performed in musicals, operas, and at countless church functions. Later in her life, she passed along her love of music to innumerable children through teaching Musikgarten, voice and piano lessons.

Sylvia was deeply anchored by her commitment to and faith in God. She tirelessly served in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as an early morning  Seminary teacher for more than 18 years, in presidencies of women’s and children’s organizations, a Girl’s Camp leader, a teacher, and most recently as the Great Falls East Stake Music Coordinator- a calling she had for over 35 years.

When the first of her 16 grandchildren was born, she coined the name “Grananamor '' for herself, combining her ancestral heritages of American (Grandma), Great Britain (Nana), and Danish (Mor). As great grandchildren joined the family, now numbering 12, they called her Grananamor-mor.

As the effects of dementia manifested, she needed additional care. There are not adequate words to convey how blessed she and our family were to have two angels on earth who sacrificed their careers and life paths to become the most compassionate companions and caregivers in mom’s final years. We honor them, her daughter Engra, and Pauleen Brammer, her bonus daughter.

We’re privileged to be Sylvia’s children:  Edith 'Edie' Ane (Michael McCann, deceased), Ellen Marie (Michael McKellar), Erik Thomas (JanaLee Johnson Petersen) Evan John (LaDawn Gardner Petersen), and Engra Lee. 

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, October 21, 2022, at Croxford Funeral Home. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 22, 2022, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4601 3rd Avenue South, Great Falls, Montana with a viewing from 1:00 to 1:45 p.m. Interment will be in Highland Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Great Falls Symphonic Choir 

https://www.gfsymphony.org/give or Latter-day Saint Charities 

https://donate.churchofjesuschrist.org/donations/church/humanitarian-services

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