Val (Valetta) Petterborg

Val (Valetta) Petterborg, age 98, passed away on September 18, 2023, after a brief illness. She was a strong lady throughout her life and until the very end.

Val was born in Preston, Idaho, to James Eddie Alexander Evans and Minnie Alice Warrick. She was the youngest of nine children and became an aunt at the ripe old age of 12 days! Her mother died when she was just 10 years old. Losing her mother at such a young age, growing up during the Depression and World War II shaped her life in ways we could never imagine.

She attended school in Preston where she participated in many activities during junior high and high school. She especially loved being in the drama productions. She was a very sociable, popular and outgoing teenager. In February of 1943 she and a classmate were chosen as the Sweethearts of the sweetheart ball school dance. She became very talented at reading and writing shorthand.

Val met Wesley Petterborg when they both picked up the daily mail at the post office - Wes for Petterborg Chevrolet and Val for the Preston Chamber of Commerce. Their causal relationship soon blossomed, and they were married, December 10, 1947, in Elko, Nevada. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple in 1979.

Val and Wes moved to Idaho Falls in June of 1950 with their two small children. They had two more children during the next 8 years. Val was a wonderful seamstress and loved to sew. She made all the girls’ clothes and even some living room drapes on her treadle sewing machine. About 1962, she won a Necchi sewing machine at the Idaho State Fair in Blackfoot which was a big deal to her family and a real blessing.

Val was very gifted in finding ways to supplement the family’s income. She “kept the books” for the girls’ dance teacher; bought a new Kirby vacuum by scheduling demonstrations for the Kirby salesman. She was a wonderful cook. She bottled fruits, jams, and chili sauce. Her family loved her hot cakes, baked beans, chocolate cake and wonderful dinners each night.

Val worked in an orthodontist’s office; at the S&H Green Stamp store and at ITEX office machines before finding a job she dearly loved as a secretary at INEL. She retired from there in the spring of 1987 and the very next day, Val and Wes and the moving van were headed to their new home in St. George. They were sad to leave their home of 37 years but were excited to leave behind the cold weather, ice, and snow of Idaho Falls.

They made many great friends in St. George. The first few years they were able to spend the hot summers renting student housing at Ricks College or visiting Wes’ sister in Oregon.

Val took great care of Wes during many years of his failing eyesight from glaucoma and the onset of Alzheimer’s. Wes passed away on November 14, 2003.

Val was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings, just as she served so many other people throughout her life.

She was such a kind lady and served her family as a devoted mother, Grandma and Nana. Her family loves her so much and will dearly miss her!

Lisa LeBaron, Val’s daughter, provided loving assistance and care to Val for the last nine years, so that she was able to live in her home until just a few days before her death. Thank you, Lisa!

She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, and husband and we know that her reunion with them all was sweet!

She is survived by four children, Pam (Len) Ingermanson, Gilbert, AZ, Michael (Sharon) Petterborg, Orangevale, CA, Lisa LeBaron, St. George, UT, and Cary (Heidi) Petterborg, Holladay, UT, eleven grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Services will be held Saturday, September 30, 2023, at 12:00 pm, at the Spilsbury Mortuary Chapel, 110 South Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. Family time, before the service, is private.

Interment in the St. George City Cemetery, 650 East Tabernacle Street, St. George, Utah, immediately following the funeral service.

Family and friends who are unable to attend the services in person are welcome to view them virtually by clicking the link below:

Video on Demand

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humanitarian Services Giving section of the LDS Philanthropies website (https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org/humanitarian-services/) or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary: 110 S. Bluff St, St. George, UT. (435) 673-2454.

Friends and family are invited to sign Val’s online guestbook at www.spilsburymortuary.com