Senior Citizen Community Spotlight

Ardath was born under the stately Grand Tetons in Driggs, Idaho to Shirl and Leora Loosli. Four years later, a brother Gary joined the family. The family moved to Morgan in April 1939 along with her grandparents Netti and George Swainston and her cousin Rhea to operate a gas station and convenience store. The old service and store, which has since been demolished, was located on Old Highway 30 – North State Street 700 East on the corner in North Morgan.

DeOrr was born in his grandma and grandpa George and Elizabeth Watson’s home in Ogden to Philip and Myrtle Peterson. DeOrr was the oldest child and had six younger siblings: Marvin, Dennis (deceased), Jerry (deceased), Sharon, Carrigan (deceased), and Glen. The family lived in Uintah for a while before moving to Peterson which is a little town named after his great, great grandpa Charles Sreeve Peterson. Furnished by the railroad, their home in Peterson was housed right along the railroad tracks with no indoor plumbing.

In Ardath's own words is her growing up story. “In High School, I was involved in student government where I was Student Body Vice President, in the band, and participated in all school activities. In the band, I played the piccolo under Mr. J. L. Terry. Being in the band had one special perk. The band on Sunday afternoons held a concert for the patrons at Como Springs. For payment, Mr. Heiner gave the band students a swimming pass to be used any day of the week except weekends and holidays so most of my summer days were spent at Como with friends swimming. After graduating from High School I attended USU in Logan for one year. My education was put on hold for 10 years to care for our children. I returned to USU to graduate in Home Economics. I signed a contract with Morgan High School to spend the next very fulfilling 27 years as the Home Economics teacher. I received some very special awards while teaching but my most rewarding award was my school kids and faculty family whom I loved dearly.”

DeOrr’s younger years were spent working for the farmers in Peterson in the hay fields, feeding animals, or whatever else needed to be done. At 16, he went to work at Hill Air Force Base as a Forklift Driver. Staying there the rest of his working career, DeOrr retired after 41 years working in the Transportation division in charge of placing the Minuteman and Titan missiles in their silos.

“Our dating days were very simple mostly because there was only one car per family and money was an issue,” said Ardath. “DeOrr would catch the Greyhound bus at the old Bohman Store in Peterson. Its first stop was at the Loosli convenience store and garage. I lived in the duplex next to the store, we would walk downtown to the Vallis Theater on Main Street see the show then walk back to my place in time for DeOrr to catch the 10 bus back to Peterson. Our favorite place to eat after a date was at Jays. It was always packed, you really couldn’t beat his hamburgers, fries, and milkshakes. Hamburgers were 15 cents.”

Married on Aug. 16, 1946, in the Salt Lake Temple, DeOrr and Ardath are the parents of five children: Christine Slate, Cheryl Jones, Tamra Sargent, Roger, and Richard Peterson. Of their happy family, there is a current grand total of 20 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren, and 14 great-great-grandchildren. In August, DeOrr and Ardath celebrated their 75th Wedding Anniversary with their family. “Our greatest joy these past 75 years besides each other is the beautiful blessings of our family. It’s really been an awesome journey.”

Heavily involved in community service, DeOrr was a City Councilman eight years including being on the City Planning and Emergency Board, School District ADHOC committee, and a member of the Morgan Lions Club for over 60 years. Ardath has served on the Historical Board, Scholarship Board, and Culturette Service Club. Together, they have served as chairmen for the Morgan Red Cross, March of Dimes and Primary Children’s Pennies by the inch drives. Further, they spent seven years as Guest Service Missionaries on Temple Square and one year as Guest Service Missionaries in the Inner City Ogden 13th Ward. DeOrr also spent 11 years working in the Baptistery at the Ogden Temple.

The Petersons have a wide variety of hobbies. Ardath loves working on family history, tole painting, making ceramic dolls, reading, sewing, quilting, playing cards, and watching the Jazz. DeOrr really liked cutting wood for the tole painters, hunting deer with his family, and watching game shows. Together, they enjoy riding their UTV and camping in the Uintahs. They especially like planning and collecting items for their traditional Christmas Pollyanna boxes.

“We are so very grateful that we have been able to raise our family in this beautiful valley,” said the Petersons. “We love being around the caring, special people of Morgan.” λ