Brent Lyle Petersen, age 70, of Prosser entered into rest on August 18, 2021 at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, Washington surrounded by his loved ones. He was born on October 17, 1950 at U.S. Army Base Fort Lawton in Seattle, Washington to Lyle Alsbury and Mary Amanda (Yost Powers) Petersen. Brent was the third of eight children of Lyle and Clara Petersen’s yours-mine-and-ours family and spent his early years as an Army Brat and lived at various locations including Camp Hanford, Richland, Washington; Schofield Barracks, Oahu, Hawaii; Fort Lewis, Pullaup, Washington and the 3rd Armor Brigade Headquarters, Butzbach Kirchegones, Germany. He transferred to Prosser High School from Frankfurt High School in Germany when the family moved back in 1967 where he met his love and future wife, Marcia Kay Dean. They graduated in 1969, married in 1970, and together raised two beautiful children who were the loves of his life. Brent played various sports with the Prosser Mustangs: basketball, was a member of the track team, and Lettermen’s Club. His favorite sport was playing Defensive Tackle for the Mustangs’ Varsity Football Team. The Mustangs went on to win the 1968 Washington State AA Championship that year.
After high school, Brent joined the U.S. Marine Corps and enlisted under the Marine Aviation School program. His military specialties were: KC-130 Mechanic, Flight Engineer and Maintenance Chief. He was based with the VMGR-352 Raiders at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California and had several overseas tours in Okinawa, Japan and other missions to Viet Nam and Southeast Asia. While at MCAS El Toro Brent played on the 3RD Marine Air Wing softball team.
From 1984 – 1987 Brent and family were stationed in the Republic of Singapore where Brent was a FAWPRA Plant Representative at the Seletar Air Base. While there, he coached for his son Nate’s Little League Baseball and Football teams as well as playing softball with the Islanders.
As a Marine in the Air Wing, Brent traveled the world and every continent to include Antarctica where the KC-130 airplane would land on ice pack. He was able to witness Prince Charles and Diana’s wedding procession in the streets of London and to celebrate with the locals in the pubs afterwards. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1990 and later worked for Crop Production Services and Blehyl’s until his final retirement in 2012.
Brent was an automotive enthusiast and loved watching televised automotive restoration and modification shows. He also enjoyed snowmobiling, watching NFL football, and camping especially at Ohanapecosh Campground at Mt. Rainer National Park. We have many good memories from relaxing around the camp fire, telling stories and playing games together. However, his greatest joy in life was being there for family gatherings and watching his grandchildren grow.
Brent is survived by his wife, Marcia; his daughter, Laura Schmidt (Delbert); his son Nate Petersen (Liz); and five grandchildren: Keegan Wilcox, Westley Wilcox (Christina), Faith Petersen (husband, Edwin Rosario), Troy Petersen and Sophie Schmidt. He is also survived by his sister, Nancy Petersen, and by brothers Doug Frailey (Gail), Mark Frailey (Yvonne), Mike Frailey (Trisha), Bill Petersen (Mary) and Chris Petersen and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents Lyle A. Petersen on May 27, 1977 and Clara F. Petersen on December 26, 2012 and by his brother Greg Frailey on January 10, 1994.
Graveside services with Full Military Honors will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, August 27, 2021 at the Prosser Cemetery. Messages may be left at the Prosser Funeral Home and Crematory website: www.prosserfuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers a donation to the Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Hospice House would be appreciated.
* A special note of thank you to the Kadlec ICU RNs and team members for their compassionate care for our beloved Brent while they were so very busy with COVID patient care as well.