BOMBER MEMORIAL

BRADLEY WALLACE "BRAD" PETERSON ~ Class of 1967
October 9, 1949 - September 28, 2023



Bradley Wallace "Brad" Peterson was born in Cokato, Minnesota on October 9, 1949, to Wallace "Bud" Peterson and Carmelita "Carmie" Anderson Peterson. He died on September 28, 2023, at Kadlec Hospital in Richland from complications of a 13-year hard fought battle with prostate cancer. He was 11 days short of turning 74.

Brad lived his first 13 years on the family's small Minnesota dairy farm, as the middle of three sons. In 1963 the family relocated to Richland when Bud went to work at Hanford. On his first day in Richland, Brad met his lifelong best friend, Steven King ('67).

He attended Chief Jo Junior High School and graduated from Richland's Columbia High School in 1967. He attended CBC, worked in retail until 1973 and then was a driver and warehouse manager for Western Paper Company - International Paper for 20+ years. As a great lover of heat and sunshine, he went on to establish his one-man lawn care and landscape maintenance business, from which he retired in 2021.

Brad met his future wife, Lynn Hatcher ('68), at Richland Lutheran Church when they were 13 and 12, respectively. They married in 1971. Three sons were born to them: Shane, Seth and Canaan. Although they later divorced, they rekindled a loving friendship that grew in depth and closeness as life progressed.

Brad was pre-deceased by his father; his older brother, Rev. Wallace "Wally" Peterson ^Jr; and his infant son, Shane.

He is survived by his mother; his son, Seth (Sarah); and grandsons, Asher and Noah; his son, Canaan (Leslie); and grandchildren: Gideon, Amelia and Malachi; his former wife, Lynn-Marie Hatcher Peashka ('68) - all of Richland; younger brother, Peter ('73) (Karen) of Port Angeles; sister-in-law, Jill Lange Peterson ('64) of Minnesota; life companion since 1997, Lu Weese of Kennewick; two nieces and one nephew; many cousins; and special friends: Steven King ('67), Marcia Harrell, Kathy Anheluk, Ken ('67) and Sue Bennett Meek ('68).

For the past 10 years, Brad very rarely missed a day spending time with and providing care and transportation for his aging mother, so that she could remain in her own home until nearly 102 years of age. Although she recently moved to assisted living, he continued to see her almost daily until two days before his death.

His favorite pastime was listening to classic rock music on the old IPod that Seth and Sarah kept going for him. He loved going to their home for dinners (especially tacos!), and depended on them during his last years for help in navigating life with a terminal illness.

Favorite times spent with Canaan included talking about cars for hours, going to Tumbleweeds (for tacos!) and being at their home to really enjoy Leslie's baking. He liked reruns of classic TV from past decades and watched Mariner games plus NFL and college football until the day before his death. He and Lynn spent endless hours playing music trivia games.

To the eternal rejoicing of his family, during his last hospitalization Brad accepted salvation through Jesus. Thanks be to God! (And special thanks to Nurse Stacy).

At his request there will be no services. His cremains will be scattered at a later date. In lieu of flowers, if you so choose please honor Brad's great love for dogs by a donation to Benton Franklin Humane Society; 1736 E. 7th Ave; Kennewick, WA 99337.

Express your thoughts and memories in the Einan's online Guest Book.

File put together by Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66).