Harold Sonny Ray Peterson, 79

Harold Sonny Ray Peterson passed away suddenly Dec. 9, 2009, in Polson. He was 79 years old. Sonny s life was as colorful and varied as the man himself. He lived large, loved his family, adored his rodeo horses and enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and snowmobiling. Born in Bingham, Utah, March 8, 1930, Sonny was the third of seven children born to Auer and Eileen (Bosh) Peterson. As a young man, he did some farming in Marysvale, Utah, and later worked in the uranium mines. He also owned and operated a service station in the area. In 1950, he met and married the love of his life, Mary Elizabeth Nichol. Eight years later, the family, which now included three children, moved to Long Beach, Calif., where Sonny cooked for Bob s Big Boy Restaurant. After attending school to become a certified welder, he worked at the Naval shipyard. Finally, in 1965, Sonny found his true calling " operating heavy equipment. Simply put, there was no one better at maneuvering a giant machine in the tightest area to perform the smallest task. He was a master. That same year, he and his brother, Dick, started an excavation business in Cherry Valley, Calif. Six years later, Sonny moved the family to Riverside, Calif., where he and his son, Kent, formed S & K Equipment Co. in 1975. During this time, he also started an outfitting guide service on a 10,000-acre ranch in Pinedale, Wyo. In 1986, Sonny started his own company, Sonny s Engineering, which he ran until 2002 when he moved to Polson. Now semi-retired, he continued to work in the excavation business with his son s company, Kentco, but he and Mary finally had time to travel in their motor home to visit family and friends scattered around the country. No mention of Sonny s life could be spoken unless the word rodeo was included. From a young age he loved horses and the cowboy way. He was a gold card member of the PRCA and an accomplished calf and team roper. Sonny did not shy away from the two most dangerous jobs at a rodeo, bull riding and clowning, where he often had to put himself in danger to save another rider. He also served as president of the Riverside Ranchero Club and promoter for many rodeo and roping events, including the Old Timers Rodeo, Century Team Roping event, and the Shriners charity rodeo. Sonny is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mary Peterson, of Polson; daughter, Vicky Siwy, of Fort Mohave, Nev.; son, Kent Peterson, of Bigfork; brother, Ernest Peterson, of Bigfork; brother, David Peterson, of Irvine, Calif.; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Auer Peterson and Eileen Hellman; daughter, Patricia; sisters, Betty Lamont and Auerlene Peterson; and brothers, Robert Bob Peterson and Richard Dick Peterson. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 18 at Grogan Funeral Home, 101 Sixth Ave. E., in Polson. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 19 at Bethany Lutheran Church, 8559 Montana 35, in Bigfork, with visitation during the hour preceding the service. Interment will immediately follow at Bigfork Community Cemetery on Swan River Road in Bigfork. Condolences can be made to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com.