A Vermont Mission: Denis

September 10, 2015

In the very early hours of the morning of September 10, 1969, Denis Roger Petersen was born. I had been to Primary the day before and Roger had gone to the Temple with our neighbor. It was hot, and when I entered the door to our apartment at the University Village on the U of U campus, I went into labor. I tried to get hold of Roger at the Temple; the only place they could page him was the dressing room. So I did the next best thing; I called Sue and Craig Jensen, our neighbors. They said they would drive me to the hospital in Ogden (which was an hour away), so I arranged for another neighbor to care for Amy, and I got my bag ready to go.

Because Sue Jensen had had her last baby in the elevator of the hospital, Craig was nervous; so he packed news papers and a shoe lace, and he put pillows and blankets in the back of his car. I wrote a note to Roger telling him where I had gone, and I was hanging it on the door of our apartment when he came running up the stairs. I was so glad to see him. Craig was too.

Denis was ten months old when Roger started active duty in the Army. He had to go to San Antonio, Texas, and then I would meet him when he finished and we knew where he would be stationed. Roger got homesick for us and sent for us early. I had to pack and clean the apartment and get everything moved to my folks, and then drive to meet him. Mom and Dad would not let me drive to Texas alone, so they rearranged their schedules so they could drive with me. They in their car, and Marjean and I in the blue Volkswagen bug. The two kids rode with Mom and Dad on a mattress in the back seat of their car. The trip was long and HOT. We were very happy to get to San Antonio, and Roger was glad we made it safely.

In San Antonio we spent many hours in the swimming pool at our apartment. Within a few weeks Denis, at 10 months, could doggy paddle the width of the pool.

Our duty assignment was William Beaumont Hospital in El Paso, Texas. We moved into Biggs Field housing. Our neighbors across the street from us, Jim and Sandy Barber, had a dog that Denis loved. He and Toby spent many hours together. Denis was fast too. He had a little horse on wheels he called UpGee, and he could go down the street in seconds. We had to watch him closely.

Roger, Toby and Denis

We moved many times with Amy and Denis. They seemed to thrive in each place. Denis wanted a bike. Roger told him that if he could teach himself to ride a bike he would buy him one. Denis had borrowed a neighbor's bike and taught himself in four days.

When we got to Peterson, Denis was ten years old. He was a great friend to Brad Milliner and Chris Hinds. These kids were not members of our Church. But the three were inseparable. They are both members today and Denis had the privilege of baptizing Brad.

Denis was Senior Class President, the Art Sterling Scholar for Morgan High School, he played football, ran the hurdles, and he was also Prom King.

Denis served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Oakland, California. It was there he met another missionary, Melissa Drayer. They got together after they came home, and they knew they were meant to be together for eternity.

Melissa has supported Denis in all his endeavors. She moved many times so he could serve in the military.