Jerry Pederson
Jerry Lee Pederson, 85, walked ahead of us on April 13, 2024 under hospice care at home with his family by his side. Jerry was a man of deep devotion to his faith, his wife, Margaret (Meg), his three children, his nine grandchildren, and to sports both as an athlete and spectator. Jerry was known for his integrity, generosity, ability to make people laugh, genuine interest in peoples’ lives, and sharp wit (and occasional tap dance).
Jerry was born on October 11, 1938, in Jamestown, North Dakota to Warren and Marjorie (Otto) Pederson. He graduated from Tower City High School in 1960 where he was a multisport, all-star athlete.
He furthered his academics and athletics as a standout college athlete at Valley City State University where he achieved many awards as a basketball player and graduated with degrees in history and physical education. He received his master’s degree in physical education from the University of Northern Colorado State in Greeley, CO. His first job took him to Hettinger, ND where he was a history teacher and head basketball coach at Hettinger High School. He met Margaret Jane Lindquist, the love of his life, a young nursing student home on Christmas break at a New Years Eve party in 1962. They married the following year on December 29, 1963. In 1967, Jerry accepted the head basketball coaching job at his alma mater, Valley City State University where he coached many successful teams. In 1973, Jerry left coaching for a sales job with Josten’s based out of Marshall, MN where he was the scholastic representative for southwestern Minnesota. As the “ring guy” he would schedule his appointments around his children’s athletic events and rarely missed a game or meet. He retired from Jostens’ in 1997 and he and Meg enjoyed spending time in Park Rapids, MN and Mesa, AZ where Jerry could “go to work” everyday (golf). In 2019, they settled permanently in Ames to be close to family and enjoy watching grandchildren compete in sports.
Jerry was inducted in the Valley City State University Hall of Fame for his individual athletic achievements and six additional times as head basketball coach or part of a basketball or track team. He served as Congregational President for several years at First Lutheran Church in Marshall. He was an avid golfer, playing in leagues and tournaments, and making a hole in one five times. Jerry genuinely enjoyed people and found ways to make nearly every person he encountered smile or laugh. Mr. Wonderful, as Meg called him, was always ready with a smile, story, or quick one-liner. His sense of humor, integrity, positivity, wisdom, and love will be greatly missed.
He is survived by Margaret, his loving wife of 60 years, and his children and grandchildren: Heidi Pederson of Chanhassen, MN (Trey, Cole, Audrey), David Pederson (Kristin) of Waconia, MN (Carter (Chana), Hunter) and Holly Lipsey (Robert) of Ames, IA, (Phaedra, Amara, Teagan, Tamin).
A memorial service will be held on May 17, 2024, at Ascension Lutheran Church, 2400 Bloomington Road, Ames, IA with a visitation at 10:00 am and service at 11:00 am. A second memorial service will be held in Hettinger, ND this summer. Memorials can be made to the Jerry Pederson Scholarship Fund c/o Valley City State University Foundation or to the organization of your choice. www.adamssoderstrum.com