Emmett G. Peterson

1919 -- 2013

Emmett G. Peterson - businessman, entrepreneur, cattle rancher, horseman, father and grandfather - passed away on April 30, 2013, one month shy of age 94. He lived life large and those surrounding him became part of a grand plan that continues to unfold even as he departs this world.

Born in Couer d'Alene in 1919, he was the only child of Emmet and Violet Peterson. His father moved the family to San Diego during the great Depression where Emmett saw Babe Ruth hit a home run and Charles Lindbergh land his plane. His mother died when he was 12 and Emmett was sent to Spokane to live with his grandparents. He claimed his dad let him drive part of the way back to Washington and pointed out that, "At that time, not many kids were learning to drive!"

He became an entrepreneur early, obtaining a motorcycle and a paper route. He began wheeling and dealing, earning special consideration from the school principal who gave him a parking space and dispensation to come to school late when drifting snow made paper delivery difficult on a motorcycle.

Following high school he found work in the Idaho forest, first for a construction company building a dike, and then for the CCC where he landed an office job because he could type. World War II came and Emmett joined the Coast Guard. He became a purchasing agent stationed in Seattle, and there one evening he met a striking young woman from North Dakota. "It took me five seconds to fall in love; she was just beautiful!", he said. They married in 1943 and began a lifetime of shared enterprise.

After "three years, seven months and 18 days in the Coast Guard," as he would say, Emmett began the first of several prosperous businesses, including operating the first-ever mobile hardware supply, building the first prefabricated structures in the Northwest, shipping the first prefabricated camps to Alaska, and forming Olympic Prefabricators, to which he and Dorothy devoted 35 years of stewardship. Until his passing, he continued to ask how business was "up north" while espousing the virtues of taking good care of the customer and forming lasting relationships.

When Emmett retired, it was only to mark a pipoint in time. He and Dorothy purchased land near Soap Lake and raised hay and cattle. They purchased the James Tavern in Soap Lake. They began to race and breed thoroughbreds under the purple and white colors of the S-L 40 Ranch. Their stable grew to 40 horses, with stakes winner Speech Test their pride and joy. They were fixtures at Longacres and purchased a home in the Phoenix area so they could pursue racing at Turf Paradise. When they retired from racing, they purchased a ranch in Moses Coulee in eastern Washington, raising cattle and enjoying the spectacular coulee scenery.

Throughout their life together, Emmett and Dorothy involved family and friends in every adventure, be it business, racing, ranching or road trips. Many a late night session "kicking the dog" resulted in a new venture to be pursued. Emmett was know to many as Pete, E.G. or Edge. His quick wit, teasing manner, iconic sayings and sense of fairness endeared him to all he encountered. He welcomed everyone into his circle and celebrations would find people of all stripes gather to enjoy a trip to the victory circle, a breakfast cooked outdoors on a barbecue, or a roundup in 90 degree weather.

He spent the better part of 90 years without the help of doctors. He chalked up his longevity to being a stubborn Swede, Christian Science, the power of positive thinking, daily vitamins and the occasional liniment shared with his race horses.

The Peterson family moved from the Greeklake area of Seattle to Maltby Road in Woodinville in 1958; and Pete and Dorothy remained in the Bothell and Woodinville communities for the rest of their lives. Emmett was preceded in death by his beloved Dorothy who passed in 2009 after 67 years together. He is survived by his seven children: Jackie Buroker, Robert (Christine), Janice Culpepper (Steve Paulson), Barbara Lindjord (Steve) Douglas (Jean), Donald and Ronald (Karla). He leaves behind 14 grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

The family thanks his caregivers, Dorcas and Karen, whose tending allowed him to live out his days in his Woodinville home. Even when dementia began to rob him of the ability to manage his businesses, he retained his sense of humor and was making us laugh to his last days. He was intensely proud of "each and every one of us" and we will forever miss our patriarch