Howard Clair Petersen

Clair Petersen passed away on February 11, 2026, at the age of 95, surrounded by his wife and children. Clair was born on September 5, 1930, in Logan, Utah, at the Budge Hospital, to Kate Maughan and Willard Petersen.

Clair grew up with his two brothers in Hyrum and Salt Lake City. As a boy, he regularly visited with his large extended family – many of whom joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Denmark or England and immigrated to Cache Valley. He always said it was a blessing to know his relatives and feel of their spirit. His love of family history began through those interactions. During the summers, Clair and his brothers helped his father in the sheep business. Many times, they trailed the sheep for up to 15 miles a day. As a sheepherder, Clair learned the meaning of hard work and responsibility.

Clair attended South Cache before attending high school at the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, New Mexico, where he graduated in 1948. There, he developed an interest in military history that remained with him throughout his life.

Like his grandfather and great-grandfather, Clair served a mission for the LDS Church in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 1950-1953. Denmark was recovering from World War II. Clair enjoyed serving the people and hearing their stories. His testimony was strengthened as he witnessed miracles and saw the Gospel of Jesus Christ in action. He later wrote in his history, “The knowledge, faith, and spiritual experiences that I received as a missionary, made my mission the defining time of my life.”

After completing his two-and-a-half-year mission, Clair began dairy farming in Nibley, on land his pioneer grandfather had settled. He attended Utah State before transferring to BYU, where he graduated in 1955 with a degree in Agronomy and Animal Husbandry.

In addition to farming, Clair enjoyed racing sports cars throughout the United States and Canada. He raced a 1961 Austin-Healey convertible. After a couple of years, he bought and raced a stock car. Clair won many races and held a track record.

In December of 1962, Clair made the first of many trips to South America where he explored sites for a second farm. On his fourth trip, he drove his pickup from Hyrum to Argentina. Eventually, he purchased land in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Clair farmed in Bolivia for 10 years. He grew cotton, peanuts, soy and various other crops on a farm that stretched over 12,000 acres. He met Maria Elena in La Paz, Bolivia in 1967. Two years later, they married in the Logan LDS Temple. Clair loved Bolivia — its history, culture, and people. He was instrumental in helping the Church grow there. He helped to build the first chapel in Santa Cruz. He fondly remembered his time in Bolivia and considered it the most exciting time of his life.

In 1975, Clair and Maria Elena returned to Nibley to raise their children and focus on the dairy farm. Over the 70 years that he farmed in Nibley, Clair quietly touched many people’s lives through his example. He was unfailingly honest in his dealings. He exercised faith while farming and deeply believed in the blessings that came from keeping the Sabbath day holy and in paying a full tithe. He took pride in the quality and yield of his crops. He continued to grow wheat and alfalfa until the end of his life. Clair’s children and grandchildren were profoundly influenced by being on the farm. Clair taught the importance of hard work and doing things right.

Clair enjoyed spending time with his family. He liked traveling and took his family on many memorable trips throughout the world. He loved following the activities of his grandchildren, especially their missions, schooling, music and sporting activities. Clair enjoyed snow skiing, water skiing, and reading.

Clair served in his community in various positions, including serving on the school board in Santa Cruz, serving as President of the Blacksmith Fork Irrigation Company (for 40 years), and serving on the Blacksmith Fork Soil Conservation Board. Clair served his church as a member of multiple bishoprics, as a temple officiator in the Logan LDS Temple, and in a variety of callings in his ward.

Clair will be remembered for his insight, his love of people and history, his integrity, his optimism, and his great faith. He loved the gospel of Jesus Christ. He also had a deep love for his wife of 58 years. His stories, his adventurous spirit, and his presence will be deeply missed.

Clair is survived by his wife and five children: Annette (Layne Darley), Denise (Rob Fergus), Kathy (Scott Craig), Wendy (Derek Bergeson), and Ryan (Kimberly) Petersen. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brothers: Bill (Mary Belle) Petersen and Stanford Burke (Carol) Petersen.

Funeral services will take place on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center St. in Logan, with a viewing prior from 10:00 – 10:45 AM. Memories and condolences may be shared and expressed at www.allenmortuaries.com.

Memories and condolences may be shared and expressed at www.allenmortuaries.com.