Desert Messenger

18 www.DesertMessenger.com October 18, 2023 Nancy's Kitchen In Memoriam EUGENE "GENE" THOMAS PETERSON Eugene "Gene" Thomas Peterson, 81, of Deming passed away on Satur- day September 23, 2023 in the com- fort of his home to be with his Lord. A memorial service will be cel- ebrated for Gene on Thursday, Oc- tober 12, 2023 at 11 o'clock in the morning at the First United Meth- odist Church in Deming. Pastor Ko- reen Guillermo will offi ciate. Mili- tary Honors will be accorded by the United States Air Force. Cremation has been entrusted to Baca's Mim- bres Crematory. Gene was born August 26, 1942 in Fort Dodge, Iowa to Russell & Edna Peterson. He graduated from Fort Dodge High School in 1960. Gene is a veteran of the United States Air Force where he was stationed in Ha- waii for 3 years. His career after the Air Force started with Northwestern Bell & later transferred to AT&T. He was united in marriage to Joyce An- derson October 19, 1968. He worked in Des Moines & Humboldt with Northwestern Bell & transferred to AT&T in Storm Lake & later trans- ferred to Elk Horn, Iowa. Elk Horn is a Danish community that brought a windmill over from Denmark. Gene was on the Danish Windmill board & was instrumental in helping re- store the mill & traveling to Virginia to help the millwright with the res- toration. Gene also was on the city council in Elk Horn & worked with improving streets & sidewalks. In 1999 Gene & Joyce moved to Carls- bad, New Mexico for his job. Gene retired at the age of 57. He & Joyce enjoyed full time RVing after retire- ment for 7 years & had various part- time jobs in campgrounds. They moved to Deming, New Mexico in 2006. Yearly they spent 6 months in Quartzsite, AZ and 6 months in Deming. Gene enjoyed riding ATVs & hiking in the desert. Gene loved trains & enjoyed riding the steam train in Durango, CO and the Cum- bres Toltec train between Antonito, CO & Chama, NM. He also enjoyed DINNER IN A PUMPKIN One Medium size pumpkin; cut top off and set aside. Clean insides out and rinse…set aside. Brown 3 lbs. ground beef, in large skillet. Add: 2 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper, 2/3 Cups chopped green pepper, 1½ Cup chopped celery, 1½ Cup chopped onion, ½ Cup soy sauce, 4 TBS brown sugar, 2 cans (4 oz- drained) mushrooms, 2 cans cream chicken soup, and 4 Cups cooked rice. Fill Cleaned pumpkin shell with mixture. Set on a cookie sheet. Put the "top" of the pumpkin fl at on the cookie sheet, with the pumpkin. Bake at 350 for 2-3 hours. After tak- ing out of the oven, decorate it like a jack o lantern; lettuce on top, with "pumpkin top" on top of lettuce (makes hair), carrot for nose, sliced cucumber for eyes, green pepper for ears etc. use your imagination. When dishing up the fi lling, onto a plate scrape out some of the pump- kin linning with the spoonful of rice mixture. Makes a perfect dinner and decora- tion for a Halloween meal or lun- cheon. AA Meetings QUARTZSITE LOCAL SURVIVORS GROUP Mon. 5:30pm Big Book Study Thurs. 5:30pm Topic Sat. 5:30pm 12 Step 12x12 Year-Round at Community Bible Church, 375 E. Sunrise St. Randy 928-216-9963 SNOWBIRDS AA MEETING Tues. & Friday 10am & 5:30pm LIVING SOBER Al-Anon Tues. & Friday Welcome 5:30pm Texas RV Park 205 W. Main St. (Showplace Lane) Don 928-469-9855 Brenda: Tues & Sat. 11am Black Rock RV (behind clubhouse) creating model train layouts in HO & Garden gauge. He had several layouts in both Quartzsite & Dem- ing. He enjoyed making buildings out of Lego kits to go alongside his train layouts. He put together thou- sands of Lego bricks into buildings & motorized equipment. Gene is survived by his wife Joyce Peterson of Deming; son Mike Pe- terson of Topeka, KS, and daughter Kim (Mark) Grabill of Monroe, IA; a sister Ruth Neville of Odebolt, IA; 2 grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Russell and Edna Peterson.

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