Hyrum Del Var Petersen, 77, of Bryan, Texas passed peacefully away on Aug. 19, 2011, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

He was the third of four boys born to H. Lester and Mary LuSeba Petersen on July 25, 1934, in Idaho Falls. He grew up in Rexburg, where he worked on the family farm. He enjoyed participating in many activities, including baseball, track, band, dance, theater and Scouting.

He graduated from Madison High School in Rexburg and later earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Utah. He went on to receive his Ph.D. from Utah State University. He began his 37-year career with the USDA as a biometrician/statistician. He also enjoyed teaching statistics at Texas A&M University. His career spanned locations in Idaho, Maryland, Colorado, and for the past 37 years, in Bryan, Texas.

He married the girl of his dreams, Lola Mary Pearson, on June 11, 1958, in Idaho Falls and they have enjoyed 53 years of a wonderful life together. His greatest treasures are his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, H. Lester and Mary LuSeba Petersen; two brothers, Parlette and Lester J. Petersen; and son, Hyrum Craig (Bubba) Petersen.

He is survived by his wife, Lola; mother-in-law, Tressa Pearson; brother, Kyle Petersen and wife Karen of Alpharetta, Ga.; sons and their wives, Robert (Rosann) Petersen of Allen, Texas, Kevin (Nicole) Petersen of Maple Valley, Wash., Bradley (Diane) Petersen of Rexburg; his daughters and their husbands, Wendy (Brent) Atkin of Orem, Utah, Cindy (David) Bergquist of Cedar Hill, Texas and Jodi (Jeff) Foote of San Antonio; 32 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life ceremony will be Monday, Aug. 29 at 10:30 a.m. at Flamm Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to the LDS humanitarian services at www.lds.org/service/humanitarian or 50 E. South Temple St., Salt Lake City, Utah 84150.