Ray Benjamin Petersen

Ray Benjamin Petersen, 73, of Victor, Montana and San Juan Capistrano, California died on Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana.
Ray was born on March 7,1940 in Emmett, Idaho to Ray and Margaret (Pitts) Petersen. He was reared in the Klamath Falls, Oregon area and graduated from Klamath Falls High School in 1958. Ray served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1964. He attended the U.S. Army Engineers School at Ft. Belvoir, VA and was a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Certified Quality Control Manager. While in the army he served an 18-month tour of duty in Libya .
Following his honorable discharge he continued his education in Highway Technology and Structural Design in 1966, at the Oregon Institute of Technology graduating with an AA Degree.
Ray began his career in the construction industry in 1963 as an engineer foreman and superintendant for projects in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska and on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. He was self-employed as a real estate developer and contractor in southern California from 1977-1990.
Ray returned to Alaska as an engineer and construction superintendant on various projects including several Dalton Highway bridges, mine site development as well as environmental remediation projects on abandoned military sites on the Aleutian Islands and remote Alaska locations.
Since 2001 Ray was self-employed as a contractor in the Pacific Northwest and Montana where he did environmental remediation. In addition, he was in the process of developing 28 acres of land with creek frontage including the restoration of Mill Creek to its original meander. This project was a lifelong dream and was the one of which he was most proud. He loved the view from his home of the Montana Mountains and the Bitterroot Valley in all its grandeur.
Ray was a member of the Backcountry Horseman Association and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. In his spare time he enjoyed long distance canoe journeys, including the Lewis and Clark route, raising mules, fishing, hunting, camping and backpacking into the backcountry.
Ray is survived by his wife of 41 years Kathleen Thomas Petersen whom he married in 1972 as well as siblings Bob Petersen of Salem, OR, Larry Petersen of Prineville, OR, Susan Ransom of Bend, OR, Jane Petersen of Vernonia, OR and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Ray was preceded in death by his parents and son Ian.
Memorials are preferred to Bitterroot Backcountry Horseman.