Marilyn Pederson

Marilyn Pederson, 87 longtime Devils Lake resident died Monday evening, October 10, 2016 at CHI St. Alexius Health-Devils Lake Hospital (Mercy Hospital). Dorothy Marilyn Hagen was born April 27, 1929 at Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake to Ernest W. and Mildred T. (Bryn) Hagen. She was the oldest of four children. Her early years were spent on her maternal grandfather, John Bryn’s farm, located in Grand Harbor Township. She received the first five years of her education at the Country School near the farm. In 1943, her father was drafted into the Army at Camp Roberts, CA. She and her younger brother, Bruce spent two years with their Hagen grandparents, Andrew and Martha in Alexandria, MN until he was discharged and returned to North Dakota. The family then moved several times so she received the rest of her elementary and high school education in Harvey, ND, Rolla, ND, Alexandria, MN and Bismarck, ND before returning to Devils Lake to graduate from Central High School in 1947. It was there that she met her future husband, J. Harland Pederson. After high school, she attended St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Fargo, ND. Following graduation in 1950, she worked as a nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital until her marriage on October 7, 1950 to Harland Pederson at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Devils Lake. Following their marriage, Harland was drafted into service at Camp Rucker, Alabama. Marilyn was there with him until the time for the birth of their first child, when she returned to Devils Lake. Teresa Lynn was born September 26, 1951. The young family settled in Devils Lake and added 3 more children: sons Kim Kent born March 15, 1955 and twins Bruce Conrad and Brian Scott on July 3, 1956. They remained at their home in Lakewood the rest of their lives. Marilyn worked as a private duty nurse at the General Hospital in Devils Lake, and as a nursing supervisor on the pediatric and medical/surgical floors at Mercy Hospital. In 1961, she began a 30 year career at Lake Region Junior College (now Lake Region State College), serving as the Director of the LPN Program, ending in 1985. Under her direction, more than 1,000 LPNS received their credentials. Her last seven years at the College were spent as Community Education Coordinator, during which time she coordinated the “Elderhostel” Program, where older people from several states spent one week per summer at the College in educational and vocational pursuits. Following her retirement in 1992, she continued as a part-time instructor for a time. During her years at the college, she developed and nurtured lifelong friendships with colleagues and many of her students. Marilyn served for many years as a board member of the Eleanor Wilcox Senior Center and also was an active member on the “Project Care” Committee which introduced a renal dialysis unit to Devils Lake. She was a board member for Lake Region Pioneer Daughters and the Fort Totten Historical Site Foundation. St. Olaf Church was a family to her and she was an active member for most of her life, starting with attending parochial school there during summers as a young girl. She taught Sunday school, served as council president and vice president, on the Board of Deacons and the Retreat Center board. Later in life she spent several years as WELCA secretary. Other committees she served on included the Lake Region Council for the Arts, Good Samaritan Assisted Living Initiative, 1947 DLCHS reunion committee, Graying of ND, president of the State Vocational Committee from 1986 to 1991, and assisted the ND State Historical Society in introducing their foundation projects and co-chaired the old-fashioned political rally with Lois Jones in 1980. Marilyn was extremely proud and humbled to be named a Lake Region Unsung Hero in February of 1996. She joined the Sons of Norway and became active there later in life. She was interested in her Scandinavian heritage and genealogy, particularly on her maternal Bryn side, and loved helping organize several Bryn family reunions, the last being in June of 2016. Marilyn had a passionate love of nature, flowers and gardening. Her favorite times were those spent in the company of family and friends. She had the deepest affection for her community and was an ardent supporter of Devils Lake. Marilyn is survived by her loving family. Her sons Kim, Devils Lake, Bruce (Judith) Glastonbury, CT, Brian, Devils Lake; grandchildren Kristin Jones (Jeff Longie), Devils Lake, Brook Roy, Colorado Springs, CO, ReAnne Pederson, Matthew (Sara) Pederson, all of Devils Lake, Tanner Pederson (Alyssa), Grand Forks, ND, Cassandra Pederson, Andrew Pederson and Yuliana Turmeque, all of Glastonbury, CT; great grandchildren Steven Jacobs, Dylan Roy, Kolton Roy, Keegan Pederson, Torin Roy, Emmalynn Pederson-McCarthy, Laynee Pederson, Lily Marilyn Pederson, Ethan Pederson and Seth Pederson-Morin; brothers Bruce Hagen, Bismarck, ND, Roger (Marilyn) Hagen, Bismarck; Boyd (Caroline) Hagen, Lakota, ND; four nieces and a nephew; several cousins and feline companion Boots and canine companion Max. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Harland in 2006; daughter Teresa Lynn in 2003; great grandson Avery Keith Pederson in 2014 and her niece Bryn Infinger in 2011. Pallbearers will be her grandsons Tanner Pederson and Matthew Pederson, great grandsons Dylan Roy, Kolton Roy and Steven Jacobs and nephew Josh Hagen. Honorary Bearers are Marilyn’s remaining grandchildren and great grandchildren and the entire nursing staff at St. Alexius Health-Devils Lake, who cared for her so lovingly at her end of life. Memorials in Marilyn’s memory will be used to establish an endowment scholarship fund at Lake Region State College. Funeral Services for Marilyn will be held on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake with Reverend Jim Paulson officiating. Visitation will be held on Monday, October 17th from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Time of Prayer and Remembrance at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Tuesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery.