The world has lost a LADY.

Mike's sweet Grandma left us this week.

Her time came on Friday night. She had fallen and broken a hip Tuesday. But no one expected her to go so soon after. Mike was able to stop to see her a few times on what turned out to be her last day. Precious time with her.

She is so beloved. The thing I most admired about her is that she was always so THRILLED (her word) to be alive and to be with people. How rare is that? SO positive. SO pleasant. SO grateful...even when her body and mind were uncooperative. Her children and grandchildren and everyone who ever knew her will always revere her. How could they not? What a girl. Can't wait to see her again.

Mike's brother, Jim, wrote the obituary below...

Helen Jessie Johnson Melton Peterson

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4/5/1918 ~ 6/1/2012
Sunny and elegant Helen J. Peterson died Friday, June 1, 2012, of causes incident to age. She was born April 5, 1918 in Delta, Utah, to Abner Johnson and Laura Huntsman Johnson and raised on a farm in west Millard County. Her loving family rallied together at the time of her father's death in 1928 and maintained strong relationships with each other throughout their lives.
A cheerleader and senior class vice-president at Delta High School, Helen later worked as a telephone operator in Delta and as a hairdresser in Los Angeles after graduating from Filbin Beauty College and passing the California state board. On a visit home, she met her future husband, Tillman K. Melton, of Dothan, Alabama, an officer assigned to the Antelope Springs, Utah camp of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Helen and Tillman were married June 15, 1940 in Salt Lake City. Called to active duty with the US Army Air Corps during World War II, the couple lived in Orlando, Florida, and Columbus, Ohio before settling in Montebello, California in 1945, where they raised three children. Following Tillman's death in 1972, Helen continued to lead an active life, spending time with siblings, children, grandchildren, and friends and concluded her employment at Pillsbury Company, where she retired in the late 1970s. She later moved to Utah, where in 1985 she married a childhood friend, Alma Peterson, to whom she was married for 20 years until his death. Helen served in a variety of LDS church callings in the Relief Society, Young Women's, and Primary organizations and as an inner-city couple missionary.
Always cheerful and kind, even until her last moments, Helen was loved and admired by a large family and many close friends. She is survived by her children Brenda (Fred) Myler, Nyleen (Ladd) Livingston, and Howard (Jacque) Melton; 14 grandchildren, 12 living, and 37 great-grandchildren, 36 living; Alma's children Richard G. (JoAnn) Peterson, Caroline Gibson, and Diane (Rich) Stewart; sister-in-law Utahna Lytle and brothers-in-law Boyd (Maureen) Nelson and LeVee Peterson. A viewing will be held Wednesday, Jun. 6, 6:30-8:00 pm, at Broomhead Funeral Home, 12600 S. 2200 W., Riverton. The funeral will be Thursday, Jun. 7 at 10:30am in the LDS Chapel at 12950 S. 1300 W., Riverton, where friends may call beginning at 9:30 am. Interment: Holden Utah Cemetery.
Many thanks to the staff at Legacy House South Jordan, Rocky Mountain Rehab, Sandy Health and Rehab, and particularly to Alex Whitt and his staff at Beehive Homes of Lehi, where Helen spent the last seven months of her life, for their compassionate attention to her needs. www.broomheadfuneralhome.com

Published in Deseret News on June 3, 2012