Cary George Peterson

Cary George Peterson was born on 10 February 1935 in Cedar Fort Utah, to James E. Peterson and Lucille Worthen Peterson. He passed away on 10 April 2026 at his home in Nephi, Utah.

Cary was raised in Cedar Fort, Utah, on a wheat farm and cattle ranch. He was the third born of seven sons to Lucille and James.

He graduated from Lehi High School and then attended Utah State University, where he worked as an electrician, was enrolled, and was active in the ROTC. He studied Math and Music and gained a teaching certificate. He began teaching junior high school, then high school. He worked in the Alpine, North Summit, and Juab School districts.

While in Logan, he met and married Ila RaNee Painter on 30 June 1956 in the Manti, Utah, Temple. They eventually settled in Nephi, Utah, where Cary lived the rest of his life. Once in Nephi, the couple began farming and ranching while Cary was teaching Math and Chorus at the High School. He loved musicals and led and taught many of them to the students at Juab High School. Cary was an accomplished singer performing for many local, civic, cultural, and personal events.

Farming became a full-time job for Cary, and he began farming and buying cattle. In the beginning, he partnered with his father-in-law, Fred Painter. They purchased leased land and worked hard at dryland wheat and cattle. Cary soon became a very large operator partnering with his son, Darin, in Juab, Sanpete, Millard counties in Utah, and in Bear Lake, Idaho.

While farming, he was active in the Utah Cattlemen's Association, where he began to develop political interests. He ran for the Utah State House of Representatives, where he served 12 years, serving as the House Whip and Majority Leader. He then ran for the Utah Senate, where he was elected and served 20 years as the Majority Leader. As a senator, he represented Juab, Sanpete, Sevier, Wayne, Piute, Cedar, and Garfield Counties. He was president of the Western States Governors, and then chosen by Utah Governor Mike Leavitt to be the Utah Commissioner of Agriculture. He served in the Governor's Cabinet as commissioner for 12 years before retiring to a full-time farmer and rancher. His favorite quote to speak to farmers and ranchers is this: ”Every Generation must earn anew what was lent to them by their forefathers, if they are allowed to keep it.” He believed in working hard in life and on the farm and ranch.

Cary was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served on many callings within the ward, including Sunday School President, Elders Quorum, Choir Director, Chorister, Teacher, and High Councilman. He worked in the Payson, Utah Temple as an ordinance worker.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife RaNee, and brothers Herbert (infant), Sherwin, Paul, Vernon (infant), and Michael (infant).

He is survived by three children, Michael (Rosalie) Peterson of Nephi, Utah, Darin (JoEllen) Peterson of Tremonton, Utah, and Angela (Shand) Rasmusson of Haworth, Oklahoma, fourteen grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren. He will be remembered for: his quiet, formidable strength, his ability to stay calm and in control, his knowledge of history and patriotism, his love for this land, and the beauty of the earth. He had a kind, giving love for his children and grandchildren, a unique sense of trust and belief in them. He is, was, and will be the steady, firm rock to each push against to gain strength and find our meaning, and he will be dearly missed.

Funeral services will be held Monday, April 20, 2026 at 11:00 am with a viewing one hour prior at the Nephi 4th Ward Church, 355 E 500 N, Nephi, Utah. Sunday evening, April 19, 2026, 6:00 to 8:00 at the Anderson Funeral Home, 94 W 300 N, Nephi, Utah. Interment, Nephi Vine Bluff Cemetery.