James LeRoy

Peterson

James LeRoy Peterson was born July 30, 1936 in Boise, ID to Arville and Nedra (Nichols) Peterson. Jim passed away peacefully at his home in Dayton, WA November 6, 2026.

As a young boy, he moved to Portland, OR where he grew up and attended school. Following high school he attended BYU where he earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics. While at BYU Jim married Leah Peterson and they had six children. Though they would later divorce, they had twenty-five happy years together. The family moved several times at the beginning of Jim's early career in computer science, then in 1965 they settled in Richland, WA where Jim worked at the Hanford Site.

In 1985 Jim married Laura (Foster) Nott and they continued to live in Richland, WA. Jim retired from Hanford in 1995 after a thirty year career. After he retired, Jim and Laura purchased their farm on Tucannon Road outside of Dayton, WA and they began dividing their time between their home in Richland and out at the farm. Jim and Laura enjoyed country living and eventually spent nearly all of their time at the farm.

Jim loved the outdoors whether it was camping, hunting, fishing, or calmly sitting on the back porch. Jim had many interests and hobbies. He was a professional beekeeper and an avid handyman. Jim served for many years on the Richland School Board, was active in the Republican party, and a member of Starbuck Community Church.

He is survived by his wife of forty-one years, Laura of Dayton, WA; adult children Linda N. Peterson, Collene A. Funk, James R. Peterson, Michael A. Peterson, David H. Peterson, and Mark L. Peterson; stepsons Gerald A. Nott and Charles N. Nott; a brother Robert Peterson; 16 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a step-son Timothy W. Nott.