Elmer Lester "Buzzy" Peterson

Elmer Lester Peterson (“Buzzy”) was born on 02/17/1941 in Anaconda, MT and he passed away from a very long and very private battle with both bladder cancer and complications from Alzheimer’s Disease in Twin Falls, ID on 02/02/2025 surrounded by many of those who had cared for him and loved him deeply.

Buzzy enjoyed spending time with those he loved along with camping, fishing, golfing, hunting, bowling, shuffleboard, cribbage and many other activities.

He was a snowbird between Anaconda and Yuma, AZ from 2004 until 2021. Throughout his life and many travels, Buzzy never found any strangers as he quickly made friends everywhere he went.

One of his life’s greatest passions and joys during the last 50+ years was spending his summers camping and fishing on the Big Hole River/Sportsman’s Campground with his family, as well as several close friends who became a forever part of his family.

During the 1970s, he worked for the Hearst Free County Library and later, during that same decade, he became the Public Works Director for Anaconda and Deer Lodge County until the latter 1980s (it was during this time that he also served as the Civil Defense Director for the State of Montana). Buzzy officially retired in 2004.

He was married to his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Pat Indendi, from 1962 until 1986. Years later, he married one of his best friends, Jackie, who he remained close with throughout the latter years of his life.

Buzzy lived at The Chardonnay Assisted Living in Twin Falls, ID from the Fall of 2022 until his passing. He spent his last two and a half years there exceptionally well looked after and adored; he definitely was a beloved favorite of the staff and other residents and he will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. We would like to thank The Chardonnay Staff and also Enhabit Home Health & Hospice for all they did for him.

He is survived by his three children: Christine Richardson (Ron), Troy Peterson (Jane), Trevor Peterson (Angie) and his sister Carol Peters (Jim). Buzzy had six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and several nephews. He was proceeded in death by both his parents, Elmer and Mildred Peterson and his first wife, Pat.

Sometime during the Summer of 2025, Buzzy’s family will be holding a private memorial in remembrance and honor of him in the Anaconda area and then later, hosting a small gathering of family and friends. If you’d like to be a part of the gathering, please contact his daughter, Christine. Otherwise, we encourage all of you who loved him to come together to celebrate and remember him.

If you’d like to do something lasting to honor Buzzy’s memory, please consider donating either to the American Cancer Society at: https://bit.ly/4lmML16 OR Alzheimer’s Association at: https://bit.ly/4iTecGL .