Jerome Charles Peterson (Jerry) was born March 23, 1947 in Minnesota. The Peterson family moved to Southern California when he was a young boy and he loved the ocean all his life, selling surfboards for money as a youth. As a child and young man, he had a bone disease which many doctors' thought might cripple him for life. But as he told it, by the grace of God he was healed and went on to have an active life of adventure. There is a story of Jerry going hunting on crutches and even shooting a rattlesnake in the head from crutches as a teenager!

After high school he wanted to get a forestry degree, but only a couple years into his time in Susanville he got a summer job working for the forest service in Montana. There he met the love of his life, so needless to say, he never went back to school!

Jerry married Cynthia Kay Allen (Cindy) June 9, 1968 in Libby Montana. Shortly after their wedding, Jerry was drafted into the Army and served as a radio operator for helicopter pilots in the Vietnam War. He earned a bronze star for saving the lives of four pilots during a firefight with his quick thinking and courage. After the war, he would save several more lives in his dangerous jobs and while out hunting. He said that God gave him what he needed to help others, and he did so without any concern for repayment or gratitude.

He worked as a timber faller, and was known as the best, fastest timber faller in Northwest Montana. He also worked in explosives in the silver mine, a job which he loved to joke was a real blast. He got into horses because he wanted to keep up with Cindy, who had three when they married, but he was an excellent horseman and cowboy in his own right. He loved to ride and enjoyed helping local ranchers everywhere he lived. He was an accomplished hunter and the family lived almost entirely on wild game. He estimated that he killed dozens of bull elk as well as twenty or so bears, plus many other game animals.

Jerry became a Christian while going to church with Cindy in the early 1970's, and his life changed forever after that. His faith was evident to everyone who knew him and he believed in Christ like he did everything else - with generosity, strength and hope. He supported overseas missions and the local church in any way he could. When they moved from Montana to Oregon, Jerry worked at a mill for a while in Maupin, and then he and Cindy ran a very successful windshield replacement business in Bonanza. He got into the windshield business because he saw the potential to make a better living and be more generous to those in missions - that's how much he cared about sharing the Gospel in the world.

When it came time to sell the windshield business, Jerry felt that God had called him to start a horse camp. He followed the call of God on his life so moved to Wamic, Oregon, and started Badger Creek Ranch, now known as Camp Morrow Ranch Camp. There he and Cindy shared their wealth of wisdom and horse knowledge with hundreds of campers and impacted many with their faith and hope, as they always had. After that time, they spent several years in Christmas Valley with their sons and their families, and then lastly in Kennewick with their daughter and her family.

Jerry was known for his strong-mindedness, his humor and playfulness, his love for God and people, and his unwavering courage and faith. He loved kids and being a dad and grandpa. He had a strong will and was an amazing storyteller. He didn't have to tell tall tales, because he had such an interesting life that he had hundreds of exciting stories to share. Even his most amazing stories always came back to the grace of God when he told them. He loved hunting, horses, mountains, the ocean, and helping others. He never hesitated to lend a hand to anyone, and there are countless memories of him mowing lawns, chopping wood, moving cows, fixing fence or countless other jobs for anyone in need. He was generous always and often said that you never give a loan to a friend, but that it's always a gift. He also liked to say that he was born without a sit-still, which explains everything he did in his life!

He is survived by his brother Doug, his wife Cindy, who was the love of his life, his three children: daughter Michelle Mensonides (Sybren), son Dustin (Kristine) son Tyson (Julie) and seven grandchildren: Josh (Jess) and great-grandson Brysen Mensonides, Cameron (Evie) and great-grandson Micah Mensonides; Bethany Peterson, Rebecca Peterson, Reuben Peterson, Janey Peterson and Michaela Peterson. Plus, two bonus daughters and their families, and countless dear friends everywhere he ever lived.

As Jerry always said, "this world is not my home, I'm just passing through." We are so grateful for the time that he passed through with us and look forward to seeing him again someday. Jerry went home to Jesus on November 10th, 2024. A service will be held on November 19th, 2024 at 1 p.m. at Mueller's Funeral Home in Kennewick, Washington.