How to Eat An Elephant ~Chapter Twelve: From The Beginning

I thought it might be good to share a little back story of my parents so that those of you who don't know their history, have a better idea of who my dad was and his some of his background and how the cancer was discovered. This post is actually written by my sweet momma from her perspective:

I first saw Guy Peterson when I started high school. Coming from a little country school to the “big” town high school was frightening. He was not much taller than me, but I thought he was the best looking boy in the school…beautiful blue eyes and a terrific smile. When he asked me to a dance, I knew I was in “love”.  We dated through high school, had great times and he broke my heart a few times, but we always went back together.

The summer before my senior year, he asked me to marry him, so on September 1^st, 1965 we were married. We felt all “grown up” but were both far too young to know better. I still had my senior year to finish, so he found a job and we began our adventurous, bumpy, happy life together in a basement apartment.  As I was in school and he had time, he was supposed to do the dishes – but as they kept disappearing, I found out he was putting them in an empty dresser drawer instead of washing them!

On New Year’s Eve, 1965, he received his draft notice. The Vietnam War was in full swing and because he wasn’t in school, he was drafted. The recruiter told him to enlist and he could choose where he wanted to go – so, believing him, he did. He and another man from Bear Lake, Herb Cleary, enlisted for three years and were sent to Fort Ord, Calif for basic training. I stayed with his parents, Everett & Maxine and continued working and going to school. He was sent from Calif to Fort Gordon, Georgia March 1966 for military police training. At that time I left school and went with him. Herb’s wife, Sheila, also went. We had an apartment off base and the guys came home on the weekends. I took correspondence to finish school. This was hard but I wanted my diploma.

After graduation from MP school in May 1966, Herb was sent to Vietnam and Guy went to Germany. Sheila and I drove back to Montpelier from Georgia on Memorial Day weekend. I continued to work at the Arctic Circle and saved money to go to Germany to be with him. In September 1966 I was able to go, 18 years old, never been out of Bear Lake much, and alone, I flew to Heidelberg, Germany.

We had an apartment off base in Stuttgart. What an adventure we had. We had friends and went on many trips sight seeing, we had card parties and enjoyed our time there. We were both missing home and family though. Guy enjoyed being an MP and looked so handsome in his uniform. It was a great experience.

Our first apartment was a semi-basement apartment and cold and damp and I had to clean mold from the corners every week. We finally moved to an upstairs apartment…much warmer and nicer. In January of 1968, I got pregnant and we were excited. I continued to work and the baby was due in October. I came home to Montpelier in September and Guy was to come in December. Wendi  was born in October and Guy got home two days before Christmas. Thus began a new and different life together. It was so good to be together again.

He enrolled and was accepted into BYU and we moved to Provo, Utah with our little blond haired, blue eyed baby. Guy was so cute with her.

Wade & Pat were also in Provo and we spent a lot of time together there. We were sealed in the Logan temple in July 1969. Wendi was so beautiful in her white dress.

In Jan, 1970, our first son Landis was born. We were thrilled again. It was fun being parents.

In Nov, 1971, our third child, Jordon was born on Thanksgiving night.

We were really struggling financially to get through school and take care of our growing family. Guy graduated in criminology and sociology and wanted to go on to law school but because of lack of money and a family to support, he didn’t. He got a job back in Montpelier and we packed up and moved home to a little rental house on Jefferson St.

We purchased the Amoco oil plant and began a business. This was during the “gas crunch” years and rationing of fuel began and was hard to make ends meet.

Our fourth child, a son Dustin, was born in Feb, 1976. I was so grateful he was born healthy.

On June 30, 1980 we had our fifth child, a girl, Brittney Jo. As I held her, I cried and had the thought that I wouldn’t be able to raise her. She proved to be a blessing as she became an instrument in bringing her dad back into the church.

During these years, Guy had been excommunicated from the church. It was a very difficult time. All during his life he had taken the hard road to things. It was as if Satan always won the battle until Guy overcame each trial. He was very strong when he set his mind. I think he must have been a valiant spirit before coming to earth and needed to be tested more than others.

Without my knowledge, he went to the bishop and began the process of getting his life back in order. It was difficult for him but he prevailed. He presented me with a card announcing his forthcoming baptism back into the church. What a glorious day. Both our families were there to support and join us. The next few years were good. It was all I had dreamed of having and we were able to have his priesthood and temple blessings restored. Life seemed good after so many hard years. Our kids were a part of this happening.

August 1992 brought the annual Peterson reunion. Guy was always healthy, active and in good shape so, when he complained of a headache that wouldn’t go away, we went to the doctor who treated him for sinus infection. After a couple of days and it got worse we went to the ER. They gave him a shot for pain which did nothing. We were sent to Logan. They did a scan and MRI and found a tumor at the base of his brain. We were sent to Salt Lake City for surgery. The result – it was cancer. We cried and held each other and vowed we would beat this. Two surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation became our lives while trying to support two missionaries, two children at home and a married daughter. Our lives were suddenly spiraling out of control.

I was working at the hospital and needed to keep the job, so Wade took Guy into his home in SLC, took him to treatments during the week and home on the weekends. This continued for many weeks.

Landis returned home from his mission and helped. In December, Jordy also came home early to spend the time left with his dad.

During this time, I never heard Guy complain or murmur. He kept looking for the “strawberry” and kept a good attitude. He died June 28, 1993. Two years later on October 4, 1995, he came to take Brittney with him. His mission was done.

After he was re-baptized, he became so strong in the church. He was in the bishopric and a home teacher.

All through his life he was involved with the youth in the church and community. He coached little league baseball and basketball and related to the youth. He taught alternate school and had a good influence on troubled kids. He had a big heart and gave to others freely.

We spent a lot of summers camping and fishing. He taught his kids to enjoy the outdoors and love life. His motto was “work hard, then play hard”.

In being honest, some of the years were so hard and I’m not sure how I made it through, but in the whole picture, I’m so glad I stuck with it as we have an eternal family. Guy had so many good Christ like qualities and Satan knew he had to work hard to win him but in the long haul – Guy conquered and returned to his Father in Heaven a winner.