He was born Aug. 5, 1924 at Burley, Idaho to Steffen and Alma M. (Petersen) Pedersen.
He was born in Burley the same year the family came to America from Denmark. He grew up in Idaho working on the farm. Pete joined the U.S. Army after high school and served in the South Pacific during World War II in the Philippines, receiving the Purple Heart during combat. Eventually he landed in Japan during the Liberation. He started his family in Seattle with Martha and then made the move to Hermiston in 1956 with Consolidated Freightways. He worked over 39 years before retiring. On Nov. 3, 2001 he married Dottie Ann (Gerdau) Cellers in Hermiston. He was a longtime member of the Elks Lodge. Pete loved to travel to Alaska and spend time at the Pedersen family lake home. He had the “Trip of a Lifetime” to Denmark to visit family. He was 100 percent Danish and always said, “You can always tell a Dane, but you can’t tell him much!” We will all miss “Dear Sweet Pete.” Pete loved all his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren which included the extended families he was so happy to be a part of.
He is survived by his wife, Dottie Ann Pedersen of Hermiston; son, Steve Nyman Pedersen of Alaska; daughter-in-law, Kathleen Ferrin-Pedersen; stepdaughters, Karen Zodrow and Janis Howard; sister, Lillie Mae Hale of Salt Lake City; grandchildren, Kayena Ferrin, David Pedersen, and Michael Pedersen; and great-grandchildren, Daniel and Benjamin Pedersen.
He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents, Neils and& Hanna (Jensen) Pedersen, and Lars and Anna (Neilsen) Petersen; brothers, Bernt “Bert” Pedersen and Willieray Pedersen; sisters, Lottie Reed and Annie Cooper; wives, Tudy Pedersen and Mary Pedersen.
Graveside funeral services with military honors were held on Wednesday, Feb.19, 2014 at the Hermiston Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.
Please send condolences at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
