Miriam Marvin Petterborg's Obituary
Miriam Marvin Petterborg peacefully slipped away in her sleep, Friday, December 16, 2016. “Mimi”, as she was known to family and friends, was born April 18, 1929 along with her twin brother Robert in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Robert F. and S. Miriam Marvin. She had an older brother George, all of whom preceded her in death.
Miriam married J.L. “Pete” Petterborg on May 28, 1948. Together they had four children, Larry Petterborg (Dallas, TX), Marvin “Marty” Petterborg (West Jordan, UT), Lee Ann “Annie” Smith (Nephi, UT) and Eric Petterborg (Kearns, UT). Pete passed away on August 7, 1990. Miriam was later sealed to Pete in the Manti, Utah Temple. Miriam had seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Miriam married her high school sweetheart and longtime friend, Lowell G. Tensmeyer, on April 30, 2013. Lowell passed on July 3, 2013.
Miriam studied at Stevens-Henager College and had various jobs during her life, among which included Field Representative for former UT Congressman, Sherman P. Lloyd, in the continuity department at KSL Television, and served as a VISTA Volunteer in Sanpete County, UT. She most enjoyed working at Monroe Elementary school in West Valley City, UT because she loved spending time with the children.
Miriam, a lifelong Republication, served as vice chairman of her voting district, was a county and state GOP delegate, legislative district chairman, and was a member of both the county and state central committees. She also served on the Kearns Town Council for four years and spent two years on the West Side Coordinating Council. In April 1976, Miriam made a bid for the State House of Representatives for the 27th District of Utah. She felt strongly about others’ rights and responsibilities, using “Your voting right is your voice” as her campaign slogan. Unfortunately for the citizens of her district, she lost.
After the disappearance of her twin brother Bob and unsolved murder of his wife Lola, Miriam joined several survivors groups. Together with members of those groups, she helped push for two very important pieces of victim legislation in Utah. The Victim’s Reparations Bill passed in 1986, resulting in over $128 million dollars (through 2014) paid out for compensation for the needs of victims of crimes. In 1987, the Victim’s Bill of Rights passed that allows crime victims more rights in the criminal justice process than ever before in the state of Utah.
Miriam loved music and studied the violin for a time. She loved playing piano and she loved to sing. She belonged to a number of choral groups in the area.
Miriam loved to spend time in her garden and had the “magic touch” with plants. After moving to Mt. Pleasant, UT, she spent hours in her yard planting and caring for all kinds of flowers and trees. In the early spring she would start vegetable plants indoors and had a roomful of starts for everyone.
Miriam had a great affection for reading and made sure she shared that joy with everyone she could. She started many young minds on a wonderful journey of imagination and adventure.
Miriam loved adventure herself and traveled as often as she could. In her later life she enjoyed going out to the “West Desert” in search of rocks for her gardens. Riding down a dirt road was great fun for her, the bumpier the better. She would laugh and squeal just like a little kid. She hated to have to turn around. She would say “I’ve never met a dirt road I didn’t like.”
Miriam’s greatest joy in life was her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her love knew no bounds and she was so very proud of them all.
What’s your fondest memory of Miriam?
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