Pete George Peterson

Pete grew up on a ranch in southwest Montana, just 20 miles from the small town where he was born. He had 4 siblings, Dorothy Ann, Mary, Iola, and Dick. He started working at a very young age on the ranch, and later, a coal mine. These were just two of the many ventures he enjoyed during his working years. Some of his favorite memories were of his grandfather Pete and his grandma Carrie, whom he cared for deeply.

As stories go he not only worked hard, but played hard too… When he was attending Lima High School, he drove a Jeep into the building and parked it. We believe that this prank resulted in Pete missing his junior year in school, which was replaced by a year of hard labor on the ranch. On a happier note, he toughed it out, returning to school and graduating.

After graduation, he was drafted into the Army. He married his love of 56 years, Mary Ellen Voss soon after joining the service, on November 5, 1954. Most of his military career was spent in the San Francisco, California area, where he was a mechanic and supply Sergeant. Their firstborn son, Leland, was born in the early years of marriage; it is interesting to note that Leland was quite premature, and slept in a shoe box.

The young family returned to the old ranch in Montana, after Pete’s Honorable Discharge, and their exposure to the west coast. A little while later, Pete, his wife, and new son followed Mary’s family to the small town of Powers, Oregon, where their second son, Lloyd was born.

Pete soon found employment in the area, working as a mechanic on all sorts of vehicles from cars to locomotives. He and Mary Ellen both worked for the Georgia Pacific Company, with him working in the mill, and her working as an office manager.

Around 1970, the mill shut down, and Pete went to work in the rock crushing industry, eventually moving his family to Roseburg, Oregon. Pete, Mary Ellen, and the boys spent a lot of time in a camp trailer during these years, following the crushers from job to job throughout the state of Oregon.

Living in trailer parks and a great love of the ocean is what brought the family to Newport, Oregon. Pete worked in maintenance while Mary Ellen took care of the bookkeeping and management of a trailer park in this seaside town. Our families have great memories of this place.

When Mary Ellen passed away in 2010, we decided to move Pete to Chehalis, Washington. He was relocated to an assisted living facility, due to failing health. He fit in better than anyone expected; his sense of humor and immediate offers of help to those in need made him a well-liked resident.

Pete was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Dorothy; his siblings, Dorothy Ann and Dick; his loving wife, Mary Ellen; and his son, Leland.

Pete is survived by his son Leland’s wife, Ramona, and their 3 daughters, Reene, Jennifer, and Myriah; his other son, Lloyd, and his wife Lynn; Lloyd’s son, Rex, and his wife Nona; their sons Tyce and Max; Lloyd’s daughter, Julie; and her daughters, Kylie, Adalyn and Emerson.

Before closing, a couple of nice things need to be said; all the family would like to thank granddaughter Jennifer for her loving care; first for Mary Ellen, and also for Pete. We would like to thank Lynn for taking care of Pete; both during his time in Newport and being admitted to the assisted living facility. Pete stayed at our house for a month, and Lynn took care of his every need so that I could go off to work, with very little thanks on his part (as was his way.) He will be missed.