- Date Of Birth: April 10, 1958
- Date Of Death: February 12, 2022
- State: Idaho
Rick passed away February 12th at home with his family around him. Rick was born April 10th 1958 in Cottonwood to Orville “Pete” Peterson and Donna (Daugherty) Peterson. He attended grade school in Kooskia and graduated from CVHS in 1976. After high school he enrolled in the Vocational Technology program at LCSC where he earned his welding certificate.
He married Kim Schlegel July 4th, 1981 in Kamiah. They lived in Kamiah for 6 years before moving to Grangeville. They have two sons Ryan born in 1984, and Wade born in 1990.
After completing the welding program Rick went to work at the Hanford nuclear site. After a short time away from family he moved back to Central Idaho to work in the timber industry. He ran skidder and loader but his passion was for falling timber. In 1989 he and his Father started Gem Chain Bar. He continued to work in the woods full-time along with nights and weekends at the new business until 1991 when he was able to work at their business full-time. In 2005 they moved the business to Grangeville and in 2007 he and Kim started a second business, Aqua Jet.
Rick was a member of the Board of Directors for NIMA (Northern Intermountain Manufacturing Association). He also served terms as President of the Grangeville Sno-drifters snowmobile club and was on the Board of Directors for the Backcountry Sled Patriots, a group aimed at maintaining snowmobile access to our public lands. Rick was heavily involved in youth baseball, coaching from 1993-2006. Over this time he coached Little League, Babe Ruth, and Senior Babe Ruth. Players on his teams won several league titles in Babe Ruth and one State Championship in Senior Babe Ruth. Along with coaching he volunteered as President of Central Idaho Babe Ruth for many years.
Rick was an avid Grangeville Bulldogs fan, who didn’t miss a single football or baseball game for either of his sons. He was heavily involved in the Grangeville Booster Club, helping cut, split, and deliver many loads of firewood among other things.
The outdoors are were Rick went to relax and recharge. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and jet boating.
