Photo By Rick Emert | FORT CARSON, Colo. — Earl and Bettie Peterson will retire in a ceremony Feb. 26,...... read more read more
By Amber Martin
Garrison Public Affairs Office
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Imagine being so in love that not only do you reach your 45th wedding anniversary, but you spend 20 of those years working in civil service and eating lunch together every day.
Earl and Bettie Peterson have a bond that is ingrained in their shared love for each other, family and community.
The Petersons have served over 73 years, including civil service and military service. Bettie Peterson will retire with 30 years of civil service and Earl Peterson will retire with 21 years of civil service on Feb. 26 at 10 a.m. at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center.
Earl Peterson served as a military pay technician at the Defense Military Pay Office (DPMO), and Bettie Peterson served as a lead budget analyst with the Directorate of Resource Management (DRM).
Working in similar fields allowed the couple to solve Soldiers’ pay issues, and they left a lasting impression. Bettie Peterson remembered Soldiers coming in to thank her throughout her time in the finance office.
“Bettie is always available and supportive. She wants to help wherever she can,” said Donna Behrman, resource management officer, DRM. “Mrs. Peterson has worked (with) most, if not all of the units under the 4th Infantry Division.”
Part of their 73 years of service included Earl Peterson’s 22 years of military service: 11 years enlisted and 11 years as an officer. While his military service was a big part of his life, his pastoral career was equally as important.
Their adventures together began in Fort Polk, Louisiana, and took them to numerous duty stations including Germany.
Earl and Bettie Peterson had three daughters along the way; their first daughter was born at Fort Sill, Oklahoma; their second daughter at Fort Hood, Texas; and their third daughter in Berlin.
Their time in Berlin stands out most for the Petersons. While it was simply another duty station for Earl Peterson, it was where Bettie Peterson began her career, and where they built lasting friendships and memories.
The Petersons were stationed in Berlin from 1982-1985 when the Berlin Wall divided Germany. For 18 months, the Family spent every weekend traveling through East Germany on the duty train to Osterholz-Sharmbeck to attend church where Earl Peterson pastored in Bremerhaven, a journey that took them hours one way.
“(Bettie Peterson) had to get to the train station, and we had to get … border crossing documents,” said Earl Peterson. “We had to do that every weekend. I’m surprised we were never called in by the FBI or somebody, because every weekend we were on that train.”
Earl Peterson said while stationed there, he saw the KGB — the former Russian secret police and intelligence agency — in East Berlin and they were being watched as they walked down the streets and went shopping.
“When they did work, they were in bunkers doing work below to keep the enemy side from picking up stuff from the military,” said Bettie Peterson.
Bettie Peterson often met Earl Peterson on post and would have to meet up with him at the Exchange because she couldn’t go to his actual work place, due to the circumstances.
Even in the environment the Family was in, Bettie Peterson found lasting friendships in Berlin.
“Berlin was unlike a whole military setting. It was new things, a new place … we met lots of friends,” said Bettie Peterson.
Before traveling to Berlin from Fort Benning, Georgia, the Petersons lost a baby.
“When (our friends) found out my experience, they kept me going,” said Bettie Peterson.
Berlin allowed Bettie Peterson to heal through friends, traveling and experiences.
“It was beautiful,” said Bettie Peterson. “We traveled a lot and we did a lot.”
The Family spent three years in Berlin.
“It was just a time cut out of history that you can look at with no regrets,” said Earl Peterson. “The Family atmosphere and the excitement of the church, going back and forth, we were able to travel and just to understand the military from a whole (different side).”
The Petersons spent approximately eight years in Germany, including five years in Wiesbaden. Germany began the first five years of Bettie Peterson’s career and was the last few years of Earl Peterson’s military career before they moved to Fort Carson and found new career paths.
Their Family arrived at Fort Carson in 1994, and it was a transition for Earl Peterson, who retired from his military service in 1996.
After his military retirement, Earl Peterson initially began substitute teaching, but found his way into the Defense Military Pay Office (DMPO) as a military pay technician.
“Those first couple of years after retirement, I kind of just bounced around, but I settled when I came back into GS (government service),” said Earl Peterson. “It was good. It helped me a lot. Things calmed back down for me and I settled in.”
Earl Peterson began his career as a temporary hire and later became a GS civilian. He was such an essential part of the DMPO he said his supervisors called him the “godfather of DMPO.”
“He is a fatherly one in our organization,” said Earnest Fisher, director, DMPO. “Everybody can go to him and talk to him. Even I, as director, have gone to him and talked to him about issues … he’s been a good mentor for me.”
Earl Peterson was the first civilian hired at the DMPO after it converted from a military finance battalion in 2004 said Fisher.
“The reason I stayed at the Defense Military Pay Office for the past 18 to 19 years is because I enjoyed the people, the work (and) the interaction with the Soldiers,” said Earl Peterson.
Bettie Peterson also experienced a career change at Fort Carson as she transitioned from child care to finance in 1995. She started working as a budget technician and is retiring as a lead budget analysis for the DRM.
“I like the people, I like the job, I like the place,” said Bettie Peterson. “When you like where you are, you just stay in. (If) you’re comfortable, it doesn’t matter what’s going on in the background. You just do your job.”
Behrman, who has worked with Bettie Peterson the last four years, said Bettie was not only loyal and committed to her work, but she also supported a work and life balance, and would set up potlucks, retirement luncheons, breakfasts and parties for her work Family.
“She is a kind and wonderful lady,” said Behrman. “She prefers for all to get along, and strives to be the person to ensure (everyone is) doing (the same).”
Bettie Peterson offered some advice to those looking to find an enjoyable career.
“Stay dedicated to the cause,” said Bettie Peterson. “Staying with a job for a while, rather than constantly moving — gives you a whole lot more knowledge than what you would gain if you were constantly changing.”
Earl Peterson said he felt sad while putting in his leave and realizing this chapter of his life was coming to a close.
“I just became very emotional. (I realized) I won’t be coming back; this is my last time. I won’t see these people anymore,” said Earl Peterson. “I had to get up from my desk and walk around … and gather myself up again. I’m thankful to have come to this point. It’s been a good journey.”
While both Earl and Bettie Peterson have faced adversities in their combined 73 years of service, they said they have been blessed in their circumstances and with the people they have met. The couple expressed their enjoyment of being able to spend their careers in a wonderful work environment, while still able to have lunch together nearly every day.
After retirement, they want to continue to share their experiences and knowledge with their four grandchildren and continue into full time ministry.
“These are my plans, to get (my grandchildren) to understand, get them into the sights that the world has for them to see, and educate them on different parks,” said Bettie Peterson. “It’s a vast world out there.”
| Date Taken: | 02.20.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 02.20.2020 11:59 |
| Story ID: | 363498 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 79 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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