Kelly Bruce Peterson

Obituary

Kelly Bruce Peterson, beloved father, brother, son, husband, and friend, passed away on June 26th 2025 after a brief illness, surrounded by family and free of pain or fear. He was 61.

Born January 27th, 1964 in Montpelier, Idaho, to Bruce and Bonnie Peterson, Kelly embraced life with enthusiasm. Together with his four siblings Cathi, Craig, Rob, and Christy, he involved himself in everything he could during his youth in New Mexico and Idaho Falls. Whether in sports, church service, or education, Kelly constantly sought to achieve, lead, and thrive.

Reaching adulthood, he served an honorable full time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Japan, spending 18 months abroad. While there he formed lasting relationships and a lifelong fondness for Japanese culture.

Upon returning to the States, his education brought him to Brigham Young University, where he met and married his beloved wife Kristi. Their mortal marriage lasted 39 happy and eventful years, during which they acted as partners through all the twists and turns life brought, and through their promises they look forward to a reunion in the eternities. In their marriage they bore and raised four children: Oren, Nicole, Marshall and Matthew.

After achieving his Doctorate at the University of Washington, Kelly ran a successful private dental practice in Washington together with a hard working team, some of whom stayed on for decades. Those who knew him can recall his endless dedication to service, which manifested in all aspects of his life as he looked for opportunities to go above and beyond for his employees, clients, family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers.

His service carried him to volunteer extensively in all kinds of charitable organizations and projects, such as Marysville Rotary, Manos Para La Paz, the Snohomish High School Drama Department, and of course the LDS church. He completed over a dozen trips to Guatemala to help build over twenty schools and hundreds of lifespan-extending stoves for underprivileged communities, a legacy that he would be quick to humbly downplay.

Of course, the legacy most precious to Kelly was his family. Nothing had as great importance to him as the lives and success of his family, and the faith he sought to focus that family around. His children can give endless stories of Kelly prioritizing time and space for their interests, diving alongside them into fields of music, theater, practical effects, movies, and even nerdy tabletop games.

Kelly is survived by his parents Bruce and Bonnie Peterson, his siblings Cathi, Craig, Rob and Christy, his beloved wife Kristi, and his four children Oren, Nicole, Marshall, and Matthew.

Though he has gone for now, he will live in the memories of the many people whose lives he touched.

*If you would desire to donate or send well wishes to Kelly's family, they ask that instead you donate to Hands For Peacemaking, the non-profit organization Kelly served with, to support their life changing mission in Guatemala.

You can do so on their website: handsforpeacemaking.org