Fred Petersen

Frederick Gustav Petersen, 85, died peacefully at home Aug. 19, 2020. He was born to George and June Petersen in Chico, Calif., on Sept. 26, 1934. He grew up in Chico, graduatingfromChicoHighSchoolin1952. He attended the University of California at Davis, graduating in January 1957 with majors in soils and irrigation science. He also was an active founding member of the Beta Epsilon of Theta Xi Fraternity. During his high school and college years, he was quite active in professional and competitive water skiing and at age 14 became the fourth person in the world to barefoot water ski. He earned California state championships for several years in tricks and jumping areas of skiing. He was also active in basketball through his high school and college years and set the career scoring record at the time at Cal Davis University. Having begun cello lessons at age 8, he continued to play in orchestras through high school and college and young adulthood.

He married Carol Stith in November of 1956, and they had four children, Carrie, Greg, Jeff and Valerie. Fred worked family ranches until 1966, raising orchard and field crops. In 1967, Fred left his career in agriculture and water skiing, packed up his cello and the family, moving to Wyoming, where Fred took up dude ranching! In addition to owning and operating Boulder Lake Lodge, he acquired White Pine Ski Lodge, Mountain Springs Ranch and developed Boulder Lake Country Estates. In the process of running the dude ranch, he became an accomplished horseman and horse packer, skills he put to good use for most of the rest of his life. He was involved in producing two feature-length movies filmed primarily at Boulder Lake Ranch; “The Legend of Earl Durand” and “The Sweet Creek County War.” It was Fred’s love of hunting and fishing that originally led him to Wyoming, and he enjoyed those pursuits all his life and was a member of the Grand Slam Sheep Club. He married Susan Curtis in 1974, and they had one son, Kenneth.

In 1987, he married Coralee McKee, and in

1989, he returned
to his agricultural
roots and started
the Petersen
Landscaping
business. He
left his stamp
on businesses,
homes and public
spaces throughout
Sublette, Teton
and Sweetwater
counties and a few far-flung homes of friends around the country. His three sons and one grandson continue operating the business.

After 20 lonely years spent mostly in its case, his cello came to life when Fred left the dude ranch business and began to play again. It was a fine instrument that he had inherited from an aunt who died quite young. He had always cherished and cared for it, even in the years he did not play. It is a French cello built in 1730. He spent the last 30-plus years of his life taking lessons and becoming a fine cellist, once again playing in orchestras and small ensembles, even earning the privilege of being a featured soloist with the Fremont Symphony Orchestra at one of their concerts.

Fred was preceded in death by his mother and father; his twin brother, James; his older brother, Robert; and stepdaughter Cally McKee. He is survived by his five children; eight grandchildren, Jennifer, Kyle, Darci, Tyler, Hanna and Cody Petersen and Abigail and Nathan Ross; stepson James McKee and family; stepsons David and Donald Curtis, stepdaughter Debbi Curtis Brown, and their families; two step-grandsons, Matthew and Ryan McKee; and two great-grandchildren, Cameron Petersen Cuadras and Hina Kikuchi. In addition, there are many young people who have over the years benefited from his presence and influence in their lives.

Rest in peace, Fred!

A memorial service will be planned next summer so that all of his family and friends will be able to attend.