Viola Lavona Peterson Thatcher died at age 93 on September 5, 2021, in Salem, Utah.

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 high school.

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, 57 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren. We are grateful that we will see her again.

There will be a visitation at Walker Funeral Home, in Payson, Utah, on Saturday morning, September 11, 2021, from 11:30 a.m. until12:30 p.m. A graveside service will then be held at Salem Cemetery, at 1:00 p.m.