Terrence Peterson

Terrence (Terry) Peterson, age 79 of Dona Ana, passed away unexpectedly March 17, 2018 from a stroke. Terry was born in 1939, in Idaho to Alvin and Alice Peterson. The family soon moved to Spokane, Washington where he was joined by a younger sister and brother and spent his childhood. In 1962, after serving in the Army, he married Marlene in Portland, Oregon. He worked in a grocery store and began working on his degree in Mathematics specializing in Computer Science. Soon there would be two children, Craig and Natalie. In 1967, degree fresh in hand, Terry moved his family to Las Cruces to begin his 35-year career at White Sands Missile Range. Terry believed strongly in the security of our country and devoted his life's professional effort to supporting the Army Training and Doctrine Command's Analysis Center (TRAC). While working his career, he found time to establish one of Mesilla Valley's first apple orchards. He enjoyed taking month long yearly vacations with his family back to the northwest to visit relatives and friends with side trips for some sea or trout fishing. After retiring, Terry pursued his many interests. He planned a trip, then caught and released a 9-foot sturgeon. He rafted the Grand Canyon. He hand-crafted furniture for his home. He enjoyed desert gardening and was active in the Native Plant Society of New Mexico. It's no surprise to any that knew him that he continued to write computer code. He enjoyed designing and building a solar farm for his home and never paying another power bill. He always loved catching up with friends and neighbors, discussing physics and mathematics, photographing the desert's flora and landscape which he found so beautiful, collecting specimen rocks and unusual petrified wood. In his last two years, he tenderly cared for Marlene, his much-loved wife, after she suffered a debilitating stroke. Terry gave his time and comfort and she was laid to rest in October of 2017. He followed her five months later. Terry is survived by his two children: Craig and his spouse Colleen, their seven children and five grandchildren; and Natalie and her spouse John, their two children and three grandchildren. Terry is also survived by his sister Carmen and her daughter as well as his brother Eric's two children. Terry's memorial service will be held 1 pm on Friday April 27, 2018 at Getz Funeral Home located at 1410 E Bowman Ave in Las Cruces. A following reception for close friends and family will be held at his residence. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal. Join us for a celebration of a life well lived. Photo Credits: Younger photo of Terry - no photo credit. Older photo of Terry in hat - credit to Lisa Mandelkern, used with permission. Service Information
Friday, April 27, 2018 1:00pm,
Getz Funeral Home Chapel

1410 E. Bowman Ave
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001