Lois Gene Peterson

Lois Gene Claar Peterson, 90, died January 10, 2026, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Twin Falls following an emergency hip surgery.

Lois was born October 20, 1935, in Jerome, to Wilbur and Velma (Hansen) Claar. She was raised on a farm and “could do most farm chores,” even at a young age. She graduated from Jerome High School in 1953 and was also the 1953 Jerome Rodeo Queen. In the fall of 1953, she moved to Spokane, Washington, where she attended and graduated from Kinman Business University, before returning to Jerome.

On February 5, 1955, Lois married Theodore J. Peterson in the Jerome Presbyterian Church. They were married for 53 years.

Ted and Lois spent most of their lives as farmers, raising five kids on a farm southwest of Jerome. They grew a variety of crops — from beets to wheat — and spent much of their free time with their horses. Both Ted and Lois competed in horse shows throughout the western United States. Lois also was the leader of two local horse-riding groups from 1958 to 1968 — the Jerome Posse-ettes and the Jerome Square Dancers (who did square dancing on horseback).

In 1985, Lois began working for the United States Postal Service as a rural mail carrier, first as a substitute driver in Jerome for five years and then full-time in Bellevue and Carey for 10 years. She loved working for the post office.

In 1993, Ted and Lois sold their Jerome farm and moved to Bellevue, Idaho, where they built a log home on the outskirts of Bellevue. During this time, Lois continued to work as a rural mail carrier. She and Ted also built four log motel cabins in Bellevue (the Come On Inn). They operated their log cabin motel business for seven years, and then sold it to move back to Jerome, because they missed their family, their church, the local coffee shops, and their many lifelong friends.

Lois was a member of the Jerome First Presbyterian Church for 74 years and was active in Job’s Daughters (Bethel 14). She was elected queen of Job’s Daughters in 1952.

She loved antiques, books, dogs, a few cats, flowers, gardening, history, horses, traveling with Ted, and getting mail. She made a daily trip to her mailbox no matter what the weather was or how she was feeling that day. She also loved playing card games with her friends, kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. During the final weeks of her life, she was still playing bingo.

Lois is survived by her five children, Brenda J Peterson of Portland, Ore., Brett T. Peterson (Deborah) of Harrison, Id., Kristi (Bart) Patterson of Jerome, Heidi C. Peterson Hill of Montrose, Colo., and Joel W. (Reanna) Peterson of Jerome; ten grandchildren, Kaysie Murdock (Chris DeCleur) of Boise, Jacob Theodore Peterson (Brent Hayward) of Australia, Coleton Moon of Portland, Ore., and Cheston (Arika) Moon of Twin Falls (Brett and Deborah’s children); Tanner (Jolene) Patterson of Iowa, Trevor Patterson of Jerome, and Tate (Jacquelyn) Patterson of Montana (Bart and Kristi’s children), Leo and Hanz Peterson of Boise and Averee Silva of Moscow, Id. (Joel and Reanna’s children); and three great-grandchildren, Landen Jansen and Liam Patterson (Tanner and Jolene’s children), and Autumn Moon (Cheston and Arika’s child). She is also survived by her older sister, Phyllis Oglesbee, in Kalispell, Montana; her younger brother, Ron (Midge) Claar, in Hazelton; her brother-in-law, Ed (Sharon) Peterson in Jerome; her sister-in-law, Gail (Wally) Peterson in Pocatello; as well as many nieces and nephews throughout the United States.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ted, who died October 4, 2008.

Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 am, Saturday, January 24, 2026, at Jerome First Presbyterian Church, 262 E Ave A, Jerome. With Rev. Mark Allen officiating. Burial will conclude at the Jerome Cemetery.

The family wishes to express its gratitude to the caregivers at Cenoma House, where Lois lived for the past 18 months.

The family suggests that memorials be directed to the Jerome First Presbyterian Church, 262 E. Ave. A, Jerome, ID 83338, which played an enormous role in Lois’ long life, or to the Jerome Public Library, 100 1st Ave E, Jerome, ID 83338, which Lois loved and used often throughout her life.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Lois’ memorial webpage at www.farnsworthmortuary.com.