TORRINGTON – Fredrick Douglas Peterson passed away Nov. 18, 2018, at his home in Torrington after a two-and-a-half-year long battle with glioblastoma.
Memorial services are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 26, 2018, at the Rendezvous Center on the Goshen County Fairgrounds. A meal will be served by friends of the family and all are encouraged to join together for lunch and, most importantly to Fred, an opportunity to visit and share stories with one another.
The family requests that memorials may be given to Regional West Hospice or to an organization of the donor’s choice. Colyer Funeral home is assisting the family with cremation and arrangements and friends may send their condolences to the family at www.colyerfuneralhome.com
Fred was born to James “Fritz” and Lenore (Cogdill) Peterson in Lander on April 10, 1948. Much of his youth was spent on the Double Diamond Ranch near Dubois and in surrounding areas. It was during Fred’s early years that he often left home for 8-10 hours a day to ride his ponies, explore old campsites and chase and hunt wild game. Fritz and Fred’s older brothers Jay and Jack taught him how to hunt and dress his game to help put food on the table. Summers spent in cow camp high in the mountains helped to develop Fred’s love for horses and the cowboy way of life.
At about six years of age Fred was housebound with rheumatic fever. It was during that time he developed his lifelong skills as a western artist because Lenore bought meat wrapping paper and children’s play dough to keep him occupied and he spent hours drawing and sculpting cowboys and animals.
Fred attended school in Dubois and graduated from Thermopolis High School. He attended Casper College and Central Wyoming College. At 14, Fred began riding Quarter Horse racehorses on various Wyoming racetracks. Once he began riding saddle broncs, he followed the rodeo circuit, which he did until into his 40s. He spent several years in Oklahoma working with horse trainers. Jobs throughout his life included stints in the timber industry, the uranium mine, feedlots, ranches, brand inspecting and horseshoeing, among others. His true passions always involved breaking, training and riding horses as well as painting, drawing and sculpting.
In 1988, he married Patti Sue Smith in Torrington. They welcomed a daughter Josey and a son Whit to join their family that also included Keith Peterson. Fred’s greatest joys came from supporting his children in their rodeo events as well as their high school and college activities and sports. Along the way Fred had many special relationships with numerous dogs and horses whom he loved.
He is survived by his wife Patti Sue; children Josey, Whit and Keith; grandchildren Kacey, Amey and Jacob; brother Scott (Sue) Peterson; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was proceeded in death by his parents and brothers Jay and Jack.
