Bruce LeRoy Peterson was born in Polson, MT on August 19, 1940, the first child of Carl Oscar and Eunice Betty's three children. He passed away peacefully with his wife and children by his side at The Village Nursing Home on August 17, 2026, at the age of 85, missing his 86th birthday by just two days.

After moving from Polson to Helena for a brief amount of time, his family moved to Billings, MT where he was raised. He attended Orchard Grade School, Garfield Middle School and graduated in 1958 from Billings Senior High School. While in middle school, and throughout high school, Bruce played the clarinet in Band and Advanced Band. He later played in the Billings Symphony and the Billings City Band. He made the decision to attend college at Montana State University for two years, where he lived and was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) Fraternity. As a die-hard GRIZ fan, he would never miss a chance to say, ‘BOO Bobcats’! In March of 1962, Bruce joined the United States Army Reserve. He served in the Army Reserves until his honorable discharge in January of 1968.

Immediately following his return from Army basic training in the Fall of 1962, he met his future wife, Joyce Babby. Bruce and Joyce were married at St. Patrick's Cathedral Catholic Church in Billings, MT on July 6, 1963. Together, they had two children, Christine Kae Peterson (Larson) and Scott Bruce Peterson.

After working at Midland Implement in sales for a few years, Bruce returned to college to finish his bachelor's degree at Eastern Montana College in Billings. He graduated with a BS in Business Administration with a minor in Social Science in 1969. He worked a full-time job, and was married with two children, while accomplishing and completing his bachelor's degree.

In the Spring of 1970, Bruce went to work for American Honda Motor Corporation (AHMC) as a sales representative. He represented several surrounding states for Honda including Montana. During his travels as a sales representative, he discovered a business opportunity of being a partner in an existing Honda motorcycle dealership in Missoula, MT. In the summer of 1972, Bruce and his family moved permanently to Missoula where he became a partner in the Honda Centre with Paul Laisy and Bill Riggert. These partners became lifelong friends and business associates and Bruce cherished these lifelong relationships. A few years later, the partners, along with Jack Nelson, built the Honda Cycle Center on Reserve Street selling Honda motorcycles, Honda vehicles, Yamaha snowmobiles, Harley-Davidson motorcycles and eventually Isuzu vehicles. In March of 1979, ground was broken for construction of his new car dealership, Peterson Motors, at the corner of Brooks and Reserve Street in Missoula. Through the years, he was able to purchase the Pontiac, Cadillac and Saab franchises. Bruce owned and operated Peterson Motors until he suffered a massive stroke, preventing him from working any longer.

In 1989, at the young age of 49 years old, Bruce suffered a massive life changing stroke that resulted in his forced retirement. Though his life changed dramatically, he was determined to never let his disability control or dictate his life. His physical ability to do all the things he loved so dearly was now gone, such as motorcycle riding and flying. After several years of inpatient and outpatient therapies to hopefully restore use of his left arm and leg, he decided to change the direction of his life by becoming an avid gym rat at The Peak in Missoula. For 25+ years, he faithfully worked out, swam MANY miles in the pool, and visited with staff and other fellow gym rats, every day. Many remember his determination and his TERIFIC attitude (yes, there's only one R) towards pretty much anything. Restorative use of his left leg and left arm sadly, never happened. Yet, he still exercised every day. It became his day job. For 37 years he walked with a considerable limp and held his left arm at an angle in front of him. He always kept going. In his late 70’s, he climbed the 'M' with a friend...twice. He transformed his limited physicalities to what he could do and didn't speak much of what he couldn't do because he truly believed that he could do anything. Long ago, while he was still working, and prior to his stroke, he attended a self-help conference given by Ed Foreman in Brownsville, Texas. Besides himself, he sent many members of his family as well as many employees over the years to the same seminar in Texas. A segment of the conference included a presentation about how to respond to people when asked "how are you doing?" We tend to carry and also ask others to carry negative loads on our own backs, like monkeys on our backs. Instead of responding negatively or asking the negative question to others, just respond, "TERRIFIC!" Bruce believed this stopped further discussion or someone dumping negative issues onto your own. It also convinces your own mind that everything is TERRIFIC! From that moment on, Bruce became the TERRIFIC man, in more ways than one! He eventually had a personalized vehicle license plate that could only fit 7 letters.... thus, TERIFIC was born!

Bruce had many extracurricular interests and activities throughout his life. An important few were motorcycling riding and flying as a private pilot. He competed in many motorcycle events over the years, including cross-country (enduro), trials, trail-riding and his personal favorite, hill climbing. He was a two-time National Hillclimb Champion in Sturgis, SD. He also enjoyed snowmobile rides and spent several winters in West Yellowstone & Cooke City, testing new Yamaha snowmobiles. Bruce and Joyce often took long motorcycle trips together with friends all over the Northwest. Following a memorable very bumpy commercial airplane flight, he decided to become a VFR Certified Private Pilot. He enjoyed many trips he made flying for business conferences, auto auctions, flying his terrified family and friends around and especially being able to fly to Polson, MT for the weekend at his lake cabin. Later in life, following his stroke, his newfound hobby was his RV. Bruce and Joyce enjoyed traveling around the USA in their motor homes until it became too difficult to navigate for the two of them. He always had dreams of one day, returning to the road in an RV. He loved to travel and did so often. Bruce and Joyce were fortunate to travel together to other countries as well, such as Germany, Japan, and all over Europe.

For too many years to count, Bruce was actively involved, even after retirement, with the Missoula Business Builders Association. Known as the 'Friday Club', many local business owners in Missoula were members. Lunch and gossip about Missoula's business affairs were had by all. This organization held Bruce's heart for the entirety of his business career and long after. Bruce was also a member of the Knights of Columbus until his death.

What was most important in Bruce’s life was his faith. He was a very active member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. He was deeply involved with Cursillo Journeys, Men's Bible Study as well as mentoring incarcerated youth. Until his death, Bruce would always want to know if it was Wednesday because Wednesday meant it was Men's Bible Study night. For many years, he never missed a day. Sadly, as his disability progressed in the past few years, it became impossible for him to attend. He also enjoyed his mentorship at Missoula Correctional Juvenile Detention Center. He taught math to young boys and girls. He loved making a difference in their education (especially math), hoping to make their lives better when they were released.

Bruce was preceded in death by his father Carl Peterson who passed away in 1954, and by his mother Eunice Peterson in August of 1998.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce, of 63 years along with two sisters, Dr. Marie Peterson-Holland of Bozeman, MT and Gayle Peterson of Williamsburg, Virginia.

Bruce's legacy will survive through his two children, Christine Larson (Doug) of Conrad, MT; and Scott Peterson (Beckie) of Missoula, MT. Six grandchildren, Preston Peterson of Missoula MT; Parker Larson of Conrad, MT; Lauren Stapleton (Brandon) of Missoula, MT; Blake Larson of Bozeman, MT; Riley Larson of Missoula, MT; and Grace Peterson of Missoula MT. Two great-grandchildren, Attison Rose of Missoula, MT and Briggs Stapleton of Missoula MT, along with many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Bruce's six grandchildren, Preston Peterson, Parker Larson, Lauren Stapleton, Blake Larson, Riley Larson, and Grace Peterson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Christine and Doug Larson, Scott and Beckie Peterson, Dr. Marie Peterson-Holland, Gayle Peterson, Dan and Becky Hoselton, Cathy and Joe Claxton, Deanna Barham, Lloyd and Patricia Babby, and his two great-grandchildren, Briggs & Attison.

Rosary will be at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Missoula on August 31, 2026, at 7:00pm.

Funeral Mass services will be September 1, 2026, at 11:00 AM at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church at 420 W. Pine St., Missoula, MT with Father Craig Hightower officiating. A reception and luncheon will occur immediately following services in the basement of the church.

A private family (ONLY) placement of the urn will occur September 2, 2026, 

In lieu of flowers, please consider sending your donations to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church at 420 W. Pine St., Missoula, MT 59801.

To view livestream of the funeral Mass services, please go to www.GardenCityFH.com. Choose livestream information via the obituary listing on the funeral home website.

As Bruce always said, with a smile on his face:

"HAVE A TERIFIC DAY"!