Long Time Tri-Cities business man has passed away.

Roger Kenneth Pearson went to be with the Lord on March 24, 2024. Roger was born June 19, 1945 in Torrington, WY to Fred & Ruth Pearson and brought up in the Baptist church. At 14 months old he was diagnosed with polio which affected his left leg but never slowed him down. In his younger days he loved motorcycle riding, spending many Sundays at Juniper Forest and riding trips through the Baja Desert, Alaska, Canada and the Oregon coast. He was the smallest rider but known as Taz.

Rogers first job was farming as a teenager in Quincy WA. He loved working on cars and tinkering. He was a true MacGyver. He attended Pasco High School and graduated from Quincy in 1963. Roger never attended the same school two years in a row. He went to CBC on a wrestling scholarship for a semester before entering the Army.

Roger worked for the State Highway Department from 1967-1974 and gained lifelong friendships. In October of 1974 he and his first wife Susan purchased Inland Ice and Fuel in Kennewick which they grew into a corporation with an additional main plant in Yakima and several disruption plants throughout Eastern WA.

In 2014 Roger retired from the ice industry, keeping the ice properties to lease out and pass down to his children .

In retirement Roger spent his time at Hills Restaurant with his wife Nancy Galstad (owner). The customers became his friends, the maintenance kept him busy and making the breakfast gravy was his specialty.

Roger was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Elks, the Moose Lodge and Tri-City Country Club. He was also past President of the International Packaged Ice Association, being inducted in the PIA Hall of Fame in 2012.

Roger saw potential in everyone he met and when he could, provided a step-up for those in need.

Roger is survived by his wife Nancy Galstad, children Robert Pearson, Dina (Brenda) Pearson, Wendy Sandmann (Mike), 1st wife and continued friend Susan Fox, grandchildren Colton Cooper, Jessica Pearson, Caleb Cooper, Jacob Pearson, Austin Sandmann, and Hailey Collins. Great grandchildren Easton Cyr, Oliver Pearson Cooper, Khloe Sandmann, Makenzee Bennett. brother Jim Pearson (Kathy) and sister Judy Pearson. He had a special bond with his nieces, nephews, many that call him grampa's and Joe his four legged side kick. He is preceded in death by his parents Fred and Lorna Pearson and Ruth and Ralph Caldwell and special in-laws Johnny and Phyllis Frey along with two nephews that he loved dearly David and Daune Taboada.

The Funeral will be held at Muller's Funeral Home on 10th and Union St. in Kennewick WA, Thursday March 28th at 1:00pm . A procession past Hills Restaurant and the Ice House will follow to Clover Island for a celebration of life at 2:30pm.