Retired Covenant minister Gary Klint Peterson died June 11, 2026, in Des Moines, Washington. He was 88.
Gary Klint Peterson was born March 14, 1938, to Lester and Dorothy Peterson in Turlock, California. He grew up on the dairy farm his father owned outside of Hilmar, California, graduating with honors from Hilmar High School in 1956. He split his college years between North Park College in Chicago, Illinois, and San Jose State College in San Jose, California, earning a BA in psychology in 1960. He went on to North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, completing a one-year internship in St. Petersburg, Florida (1962–1963) and graduating with a master of divinity degree in 1965.
In 1961 Gary married Marilyn Alfreda Olson, his partner in ministry and life for more than five decades. Together they served five Covenant churches: Seattle (Washington) First Covenant Church; Bethany Covenant Church in Mount Vernon, Washington; Trimont (Minnesota) Covenant Church; Midway Community Covenant Church in Des Moines, Washington; and Powell Valley Covenant Church in Gresham, Oregon. Following retirement, Gary continued to serve as interim pastor at Summit View Covenant Church, West Hills Covenant Church, Mercer Island Covenant Church, River Ridge Covenant Church, and Newport Covenant Church.
Gary gave generously to the Covenant through decades of conference and denominational service. In the North Pacific Conference (now known as the Pacific Northwest Conference) he served on the Evangelism Committee, the Ministerium (as secretary), the Committee on Ministry (as both secretary and chair), the
Executive Board, the Cascade Camp Board, and the Camping Commission. He also served on the Northwest Conference Executive Board, and on ministerial committees in Seattle, Mount Vernon, Des Moines, Trimont, and Gresham. He was a longtime member of Kiwanis International.
Gary was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn, in 2017. He is survived by his children, Shari Gettis (Rick), Tim Peterson (Kim), and Sonja Wetzel (Steve); his seven grandchildren, Nathan, Isaac, Linnea, Kara, Micah, Hannah, and Catlyn; and his two great-granddaughters, Selah and Brinley.
A memorial service will be held at Midway Community Covenant Church in Des Moines, Washington, on September 12 at 2 pm.
Peace be to his memory.
