Dee R. Petterborg

Dee Ronald Petterborg of Preston, an outgoing, cheerful man with a built-in sense of humor, passed away Sunday, June 22, 2014, at the Franklin County Transitional Care Center. Dee, known by many as Dee Ron, Pete, or Rabbit, always had a smile for everyone and was beloved by all who knew him.
Dee was born at home on the original homestead property on October 4th, 1936. Raised in Egypt by his parents, Edgar E. and Ella Martin Petterborg, he enjoyed a childhood full of fun, playing baseball and football, building a clubhouse in the old chicken coop, and swinging in the barnyard. He, along with his neighborhood playmates, Larry Keller, Gordon Oliverson, Jesse Johnson, and Darvel Holliday, attended the Egypt School until it burned down. School was held in the basement of the 5th Ward church for the rest of the year and then the boys attended Whitney School through the 8th grade, when in a county-wide basketball tournament, Dee was voted, "Most Outstanding Player. "
While attending Preston High School, Dee played basketball, baseball, and football, played clarinet in the band, sang in the choir, participated in musicals, and went to Girls PE for about half a year before the principal found out about it and moved him out of the class. Dee met his sweetheart, Thedora (Teddy) Ames in Algebra class, and on graduation night, they got engaged and the young lovers married in the Salt Lake Temple on September 14th, 1955. They began their lives in a home they bought and moved to the homestead, which they remodeled often.
Three years after they married, Dee and Thedora began their family with a daughter, Cindy, and every two years after, another child was welcomed into the family as Jan, Terry Dee, Sandra, and Phil Dee were born. They loved camping at Willow Flat or Emigration campgrounds, often spending weeks at a time in the woods with friends and their families. As a couple, Dee and Thedora traveled to many national parks, Europe, Canada, Hawaii, and Mexico, and regularly attended theatre productions and concerts, usually escorting a grandchild or two along with them.
While a freshman in high school, Dee began to run the family farm himself and he received a great deal of satisfaction from working with the soil and watching the crops grow.
Throughout Franklin County, Dee's excellent workmanship as a carpenter can be seen in the many new homes, remodeling projects, or tile work that he completed. In his construction career, he worked for Glenn Call and Sons, Bud Call, Max Dahle, and then created a business partnership, which turned into a special friendship, with Larry Ralphs. Dee was always quick to help his children and grandchildren with remodeling or building projects and never asked for anything in return. Dee's son, Phil, said of his father, "If you needed something done, Dad was there."
In addition to working hard, Dee played hard, too. As an adult, he played baseball and volleyball, traveling to all-church tournaments, where he made friends from around the world. The youth he chaperoned at the many dance festivals, or church or neighborhood parties knew he would usually be more fun than any of the teenagers there. The pool table at the Petterborg home was a focus of many neighborhood social gatherings.
Active in the LDS Church, he worked with the Young Men and in the Sunday School, as well as working on the Stake Sports Committee for many years. He was also a member of the Preston Police Auxiliary. Fun-loving, easy-going, and patient, Dee enjoyed playing with his dogs, riding motorcycles, golfing, coaching women's softball, attending family reunions, Halloween and Christmas parties, and spending time with his children and grandkids.
Dee was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, Leo Frew, Florence Jensen, Wanda McKenzie, Gwen Call, and their spouses. He is survived by his wife, Thedora, who still lives on the homestead property, his children, Cindy (Wayne) Wilson, Meridian; Jan Hull, Logan; Terry (Pam)Petterborg, Preston; Sandra (Rob) Tondini, Preston; Phil (Andria)Petterborg, Preston, 23 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, two brothers-in-law, Dennis Ames, Wendell, and Dwight (Lorene) Ames, Pocatello, and numerous other nieces, nephews, and cousins.


His daughter, Jan, said, "If Dad knew we had an interest in something, he did everything he could to make it happen... Dad loved people, he was a perfectionist at his work, and he loved his wife." Dee Petterborg will be missed greatly by his many descendants, but his positive influence will be felt for years to come.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in the Preston Fifth Ward Chapel, 213 S. 200 E., Preston, Idaho. Friends may call Wednesday from 6-8 pm at Webb Funeral Home, 1005 South 800 East, Preston and Thursday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in the Preston Cemetery. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.webbmortuary.com