Helenmar Christensen Petersen Obituary (1924 - 2008)

Helenmar Petersen died after a brief heart illness on Thanksgiving Day. She is the beloved wife of Melvin C. Petersen; mother of Melvin C. (Jr.) (deceased); and Janet Petersen. She was the light of Mel’s life for 67 years and he will miss her. Helenmar was born July 1, 1924, in Blackfoot, Idaho, to Violet Anderson and Clinton Christensen. Her family moved to Butte, Montana, when Helenmar was seven and in 1941, at sixteen, she met and married Mel. Their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple while on their honeymoon. Helenmar finished her GED in 1970, and went to work at Montana Power, the only time in her life she didn’t work with Mel. Mel and Helenmar worked family businesses together in Montana and Utah. In Montana, they ran two grocery stores, a laundromat and dry cleaners. In Salt Lake, Helenmar and Mel bought The Copy Stop, by Foothill Village, and ran it successfully for thirteen years. They retired in 1993. Helenmar had an unwavering testimony of Christ and was committed to raising her family in the church. She never doubted the Lord’s hand in her life and she accepted life’s challenges and trusted in the Lord. Helenmar is survived by her sweetheart, Mel; daughter, Janet; daughter-in-law, Sandra James (Don); grandchildren, Douglas (Jennifer), Curtis (Shauna), Brandon (Heather) and Kristen Blackburn. There are nine great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 South State on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008, at 11:00 am. Viewing: Monday, Dec. 1, 2008, 6:00-8:00 pm. at Jenkins-Soffe. If you have a special memory of Helenmar, please write it down for Mel. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Primary Children’s Medical Center.