Viola Lavona Peterson Thatcher
1928 — 2021
Viola was born March 16, 1928, in Dalton, Nebraska to John and Pearl Peterson. She moved to Lusk, Wyoming in 1929 where she grew up and graduated. She married John DeGroot in November of 1946. They had two children, Rhonda and David. They moved to Denver, Colorado in 1949.
There she was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
She enjoyed serving in the young women’s, Relief Society, and Sunday school programs. She and John divorced in 1969, a few years later she moved to Utah with her daughter and son-in-law Gary Proctor. Viola married Glen Thatcher June 25, 1978. They enjoyed many years together traveling, being with family and friends, and spoiling their grandchildren. Viola loved her family and suffered great loss as she was predeceased by her husband, Glen
Thatcher; daughter, Rhonda DeGroot Proctor; son, David DeGroot; step-daughter, Terry Lynn Warner; mother, Pearl Peterson; father, John Peterson; brothers, Everett and Vernon; and many friends and extended family. We imagine there was a very happy, heavenly reunion.
Viola is survived by her son-in-law, Gary Proctor; daughter-in-law, Cathy DeGroot; step-children, Coyann Kilmer (Robert), Gary Thatcher (Cindy), Kevin Thatcher (Kim), Gordon Thatcher (Lisa), son-in-law Kim Warner, 21 grandchildren and 57 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren. We are grateful that we will see her again.
There will be a visitation at Walker Mortuary in Payson on Saturday September 11th from 11:30-12:30 pm, with a graveside service at Salem Cemetery at 1:00 pm.