"Bill" Peterson was born May 7, 1951, in McIntosh, South Dakota, to Clarence G. Peterson and Eunice Grace (Wattenberger) Peterson. The Petersons moved to Bozeman when Bill was in middle school, inspiring a lifelong devotion to the Montana State Bobcats. Shortly after, they settled in Missoula to open the family business, Quality Supply, in 1965, where Bill worked most of his life.
On August 19, 1972, Bill married Kathy Wheeler in Missoula and from this union their four children were born. Bill and Kathy divorced in 1984.
Bill was beloved at Quality Supply's Montana locations where for decades he enjoyed delivering goods to ranchers and between stores in Hamilton, Butte, Dillon and Missoula. He was known for his humor and selflessness and would give away his jacket if he saw someone in need.