Pedro "Peter" Brassanini returned to his Heavenly Father with honor and distinction on Sunday, August 25, 2024, peacefully surrounded by loving family.  He was born on August 4, 1935, in Brusque, Santa Catarina (SC), Brazil. He was the sixth of seven children born to Maria Flor and Joao Brassanini.  He was an identical twin brother to Paulo Brassanini of Terreton, Idaho.  As they grew up, Paulo would occasionally get into  a fight or trouble and then hide and Peter would get the blame.  They remained close friends throughout their lives until Paulo passed away in 2022.

Peter grew up in a very rural area of Santa Catarina state in Brazil.  He was the son of subsistence farmers that didn't have electricity or running water to their home until Peter was in his teens.   When Peter and Paulo were 12 years old, their family was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  They were pioneers of the Church in Brazil.

He graduated from high school near Joinville, SC 1953.  In 1955 he completed his compulsory military service in the Brazilian Army, and then was called on his first of 5 missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  He served the following church missions:  1) As a proselytizing missionary to the Brazilian Mission 1955-56; 2) As a building missionary constructing chapels from 1963-1964; 3) Mission President to the Porto Alegre Mission from 1985-1988; 4) Temple President of the Porto Alegre, Brazil Temple 2006-2009; and 5) Temple service mission to the Curitiba, Brazil Temple 2013-2014.

He attended Ricks College and BYU Provo majoring in Education preparatory to a life-time career with the Church Education System (CES).

While attending Ricks College he met Betty Carol Norris from Parker, Idaho.  They dated for a year until Betty Carol was called to serve a mission to Southern Brazil.  When she returned, they were married on July 1,1966 in the Idaho Falls Temple and were blessed with four children.

Peter worked for the Church Education System in Arizona by the Navajo Reservation, and later in southern Brazil. In 1978 Peter, Betty and their three children, David, Michael and Maria Elaina moved to Brazil.  He would spend nearly 30 years working for the CES throughout southern Brazil. Peter and Betty raised their children in Brazil, including an adopted Brazilian son, Carlos and were also foster parents to several Brazilian young men.

Peter served in the Church through many capacities while in Brazil, including as Branch President, Bishop, Stake President, Mission President, Temple President and as an Ordinance Worker.

Peter was known for his complete devotion to the Savior Jesus Christ, His Gospel and to His Church.  His life was one of constant service to the people of Brazil.  He was joined in this service by his faithful and dedicated wife Betty Carroll Norris.

Peter had a passion for transforming the lives of so many young people, giving them every opportunity for spiritual and temporal success.  He helped develop pilot projects in Brazil offering educational opportunities to returned missionaries. He loved to serve where ever he was, and did so right up to his last days.

Peter is survived by his children David (Cintia) of Sterling, VA, Michael (Luciane) of Dupont, WA, Maria Elaina Summers (Tim) of Helena, MT, and Carlos Brassanini of São Paulo, Brazil.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Joao & Maria Brassanini, and by his siblings Paulo Brassanini, Selma Ike, Antonio Brassanini and three infant siblings.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 7th (in commemoration of the Brazilian Independence Day) with visitation beginning at 10:00am and the funeral at 11:00am at the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building at 700 Park St, Rexburg, Idaho. Burial will be in the Parker Cemetery under the direction of Bert Flamm Mortuary.

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