Mary Jean Petersen

Mary Jean Hicks Petersen
February 19, 1943 - May 2, 2026

Mary Jean Hicks Petersen, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher, and friend, passed away on May 2, 2026, at the age of 83.

Mary Jean was born February 19, 1943, on her family's ranch southeast of Mountain View, Wyoming, to Edna Mae Taylor Hicks and Arthur Warren Hicks. She was named after her grandmother, Mary Allen Hicks. 

In her early years, she was raised in a small log home without running water, where winters were warmed by a coal stove and daily life required hard work and resilience. She often shared memories of getting dressed by the stove on cold mornings, riding to school in an old ambulance-turned-bus, and herding cattle to Rocky Springs at the base of the Uinta Mountains. As a child, she found joy in simple things. She dressed her kittens in doll clothes, collected eggs despite her fear of birds, and even sold rocks to tourists at Fort Bridger to earn money for her first bicycle.

Mary Jean excelled in school, graduating as valedictorian from Mountain View High School in 1961 and again as valedictorian from the University of Wyoming in 1965. At age 15, she met Owen Petersen, who would become her sweetheart and eternal companion. They were married while attending college and spent 64 years building a life centered on faith, devotion, service, and love.

Owen's military service took their family to Virginia, Washington, Alaska, and California. Wherever they lived, Mary Jean created a stable and loving home. Together, they raised three children: Mark, Gwen, and Dean. Her children were the center of her world and her greatest joy. Throughout their childhoods, Mary Jean made it a priority to go on individual dates with each of her children, doing something special that they chose. She was an incredible listener, genuinely interested in even the smallest details of their lives. Her words of encouragement were a constant source of strength and guidance and will be profoundly missed.

While caring for her family, she continued her education by earning additional degrees and devoted her career to teaching children with learning disabilities. She was attentive not only to their academic needs, but also to their individual circumstances, quietly providing support and resources to families in need.

In 1999, Mary Jean and Owen returned to the Bridger Valley, where she was grateful to teach in the same school district where she had grown up. She cherished reconnecting with lifelong friends, building new relationships, and living once again among the Wyoming landscapes she loved.

A faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mary Jean lived her testimony through consistent service, quiet example, and enduring love. Following retirement, she and Owen served a mission at Camp Pendleton, California, and later served as stake missionaries in Mountain View. Her faith had a lasting influence on her family, and her example will continue to guide future generations.

Mary Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Edna Hicks, and her siblings, Betty Rinker and Allen Hicks. The family finds comfort in the belief that they are reunited in eternity.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 64 years, Owen Petersen, and their children: Mark Petersen (Madai), Gwen Petersen Wride (Dave), and Dean Petersen (Nancy). She is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, with one more expected.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 116 4th Street, Mountain View, Wyoming. A viewing will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by funeral services at 11:00 a.m. Graveside services and the dedication of the grave will take place at 12:00 noon at the Fort Bridger Cemetery.