Elizabeth Jean Peterson

Betty Peterson – (Elizabeth Jean Troup) September 5, 1932 – October 9, 2024
Betty passed from this life of natural causes after a relatively short stay at Merrimack County
Nursing Home. Betty Jean, as she was known in her youth, loved birds, music, books and flowers.
She often wrote poems for her friends, liked to paint and draw, and had superb penmanship. She
was an excellent piano player and loved her youthful summers at Camp Salvadore in Califon, New
Jersey.
She was the eldest daughter of James Brailsford Troup and Doris Annette (Taphouse) Troup. They
resided in Huntington, Long Island, NY. As she grew up, she took a job at a florist, then with the
telephone company. In the meantime, a neighborhood fellow, Carl Alvin Peterson, was building a
boat in his garage. He would become her husband, and they would take a honeymoon trip to New
Hampshire. He then sold his boat to build a house on Long Island. They then welcomed two
daughters to complete their family. When Carl’s career at Gruman Aircraft was coming to an end, a
Long Island acquaintance told him of a Country Store for sale in Canterbury, New Hampshire, and a
major move ensued. Betty became Canterbury’s postmaster, Carl ran the store for 16 years, and
they then retired to Contoocook New Hampshire. Carl passed in 2008, and shortly thereafter Betty
moved to Pleasant View Retirement, where she resided for 12 years.
She leaves behind her two daughters, Eileen Marie Peterson and her husband James Valz, Karen
Elizabeth (Peterson) Pearl and husband Peter Pearl. Two grandsons, Carl Alexander Pearl and his
wife Sara (Coulters) Pearl and their children Hailey, Riley and Sawyer and Christopher Ryan Pearl
and his wife Ashley (Boucher) Pearl.
She had two brothers and a sister – Eileen Saxer (Troup) DiNuovo, deceased, and her husband I.
Thomas DiNuovo, deceased. James Brailsford Troup, Jr. deceased and his wife Margaret (Krist)
Troup. Dennis Mark Troup and his wife Cynthia (Blanda) Troup deceased. She also leaves behind
several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A private remembrance will be held at a later date. If you choose, donations in Betty’s memory can
be made to The National Audubon Society, Arbor Day Foundation, and North Shore Animal League
(in memory of “Lady”)