Carol Ann Petersen

Carol Ann Petersen, 86, beloved Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother passed on November 17, 2023, in Parker, Colorado. She was born on October 27, 1937, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and was 86 years old. She is survived by her brother, Neldon Kent Baldwin; 5 children, Jody L. Fulroth, LuAnn Flanagan, Larry Leon Petersen, Russell Jay Petersen, and Lynnette George; along with 24 Grandchildren, and 16 Great Grandchildren with two more on the way.  Carol was preceded in death by her Husband, Larry Jay Petersen; Parents, Neldon E. Baldwin and Pearl Justine Barton; Brother, Brian Baldwin; Sister, Ellen Patricia Baldwin Sharp Magruder; Daughter, Isabelle Lansing Slowman Toledo, and Granddaughter Keshena Toledo.

Carol graduated from Weber High School in Ogden, Utah in 1955 and went to work for the phone company. That same year the family moved to Denver. Her father was a government employee. Because of some family issues, Carol was not able to attend college. She did, however, serve a 6-month Stake Mission for her church.

Carol met Larry Jay Petersen at church. He was a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He ended up living in the family's basement. When Larry discovered that he was in love with Carol, he went to his Mission President, told him he had fallen in love with the girl upstairs, and was transferred to Roswell, New Mexico, that evening. They were married in the Logan Temple in July of 1957.

Children began showing up in August of 1958, and Carol spent most of her remaining years collecting them. She had four of her own, and two that were adopted. Larry and Carol were foster parents of many little ones over the years. Carol’s favorite pastime was doing things that involved her children. Sitting on the couch talking, playing games, doing crafts together were her favorites.

Her hobbies included sewing, knitting, crocheting, and doing family history. She was an avid reader, loved musicals, John Wayne movies and watching sunsets. She loved having good music playing in her home.

The grandkids have some terrific stores about their grandma! She used to stick her bottom denture out at the kids, and then laugh and laugh as she watched the little ones try to pull their bottom teeth out. Carol was a fan of helping the grandkids tease Grandpa and would whisper things in their ears to go do this or that to Grandpa. She would then sit and laugh when the kids pulled off what she sent them to do.

Shyla tells a story about one day when she and her girls were there visiting, and Uncle Larry found a screwdriver in the dryer. Grandma blamed Toby, her little dog for putting it there, however, the dryer was stacked on top of the washer. There’s no way Toby could put it there. Every time Larry asked her about it, she said Toby did it, and she never changed her story, no matter what Larry said!

Carol worked in the Family History Center for 32 years. Her kids used to tease her about hunting “stiffs”. She was very successful in finding her ancestors and she loved teaching others to do their genealogy, sharing her skills and love of genealogy with many members of her stake. LuAnn remembers going to St. Catherine’s House in London and searching the big record books for Certificates for Mom. Carol would get so excited when a Certificate was found.

Carol worked the night shift for years at the phone company in Denver, and in later years, she was the secretary for Larry’s electrical business. She also worked outside the home after the kids were grown doing secretarial work and custodial work for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Larry and Carol were called on a Church Service mission in February 2007 thru February 2009, serving in the Denver North Mission. Carol worked in the office and Larry kept track of the missionary cars.

Carol was a very good teacher in many organizations in the church, and especially loved working in the Junior Sunday School. She served as the Junior Sunday School Coordinator for years. Carol always said that her favorite scriptures were Doctrine & Covenants 12: 122- 123. These scriptures are significant because the Prophet Joseph Smith received them while he and three others were in Liberty Jail. One of those men was her third Great Grandfather, Caleb Baldwin.

Carol could be found frequently with her scriptures open on her lap, just sitting and pondering what she had just read. She loved attending the Temple and lived to see all of her children married there. It was a very exciting day for her when the last child was sealed.

Larry and Carol always had a family dog and Carol was so soft hearted, that she would let them inside the house because she could not bear having them out in the cold.

Carol spent her life in service to others. She served in every Church organization, did Temple work often, and served her family and extended family. Her love and service will now continue on the other side of the veil with Larry.

Carol was diagnosed with Dementia and had currently been living in a Memory Care Facility.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 28th, from 6:00-7:30pm, at the Horan & McConaty location in Arvada: 7577 W. 80th Ave. (corner of 80th & Wadsworth), Arvada, Colorado  80003.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00pm on Wednesday, November 29th, at the Golden City Cemetery, 755 Ulysses St, Golden, CO 80401. For those unable to attend the graveside service in person, you are invited to use the following link to participate virtually: Carol Petersen – BXcited

Carol will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Larry Jay Petersen.