Shirley Ann Petersen

Shirley Ann (nee Wright) Petersen, longtime Livingston native, passed away peacefully in Bozeman Mt on September 18th, 2026, after a brief illness.

Shirley was born on September 26th, 1934 in the Lott Hospital in Livingston, Mt to Paul Thomas Wright and Anna Agnes Wright. She was raised on the Wright ranch in Paradise Valley. She loved horses and rode all the while growing up at the ranch. Sadly, her mother Anna passed away when Shirley was 12 years old. Her Dad Paul and her forged ahead with life on the ranch with duties of raising and caring for cattle, horses and cooking for hired hands.

She attended Richland School in Paradise Valley and Park Senior High School and graduated in 1952. She also attended ASU in Tempe, Arizona for a short time. Mom met William A Petersen (Bill), also of Livingston and they were married November 26th,1955. They welcomed two children, Paula and Mark Petersen and raised them on the ranch for 7 years and then moved to Livingston in 1965. Shirley was a country girl at heart and loved where she was raised and was extremely knowledgeable about the Livingston area and the people in the valley. She was an avid church goer and attended Living Hope Church. She was very inquisitive about history and was deeply involved with the Yellowstone Gateway Museum providing information and items to donate.

Shirley’s husband Bill passed away in July of 2011. She is survived by her son Mark Andrew Petersen (Laurie) of Bozeman and Paula Mae Heinz of Colorado Springs, CO: grandchildren Saige Petersen, Sarah Petersen Shirley (Kenny), Alison Petersen, Lane Heinz (Serina) and Taryn Heinz Buitrago (Ceci) and great grandchildren Emma Petersen and Weston and Adeline Shirley. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren gave her great joy!

A memorial service will be held for Shirley on Thursday, September 24th at 10:00 a.m. with a viewing from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 at Franzen Davis Funeral Home.

The family would like to thank Hillcrest Independent Living, Aspen Point/Birchwood in Bozeman, and Big Sky Hospice for their care of Shirley.

In memory of Shirley, please donate to Stafford Animal Shelter in Livingston at 3 Business Park Rd.