When Richard Thomas Peterson was born on 13 April 1878, in Montana Territory, United States, his father, Ferdinand Peterson, was 47 and his mother, Mary Ann Russell, was 32. He married Katherine Ellen Gieske on 2 September 1901, in Blaine, Latah, Idaho, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons. He lived in Home Park, Madison, Montana, United States in 1910. He died on 5 November 1930, in Sheridan, Madison, Montana, United States, at the age of 52, and was buried in Nevada City, Madison, Montana, United States.