He was a law clerk to Justice Eugene E. Pratt of the Utah Supreme Court and served as Weber County attorney.

He engaged in the private practice of law in 1941 and served in the Utah State legislature 1955-1957.

After leaving Congress, he served as chairman of the Weber County, Utah, Taxpayers Association.

Having served as a young man in Leipzig, Germany, as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Peterson later served as president of the Southern Germany Mission from 1970 to 1973.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress