Delores Louise Pederson

Delores L. (nee Gardner) Pederson was born December 14, 1925 in St. Paul, MN. She graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1948 and continued a life-long love with her alma mater. She graduated from Immanuel Hospital School of Nursing with a specialty in Public Health. She moved to Mille Lacs County in August of 1956 and married her husband, S. Martin Pederson in 1971. Together they lived on his dairy and cattle farm for 35 years, in the home that he built, until his death in 2006. Delores worked with Mille Lacs County Public Health for 20 years, working closely with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, serving over six generations of families. After she left public health, Delores worked for eleven years at the Anoka State Hospital in the chemical dependency unit. Since retirement, she has been active with the MN Nurses Association, Nexus/Mille Lacs Academy, Onamia Library, YES, and Bethany Lutheran WELCA. Delores died of natural causes surrounded by her friends and family on August 1, 2014. Family thanks Guardian Angels + Elim Hospice for their help in her final days. Funeral service will be held at 12 Noon on Wednesday, August 6th at Bethany Lutheran Church in Onamia with Rev. Jim Swanson officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Onamia. VISITATION WILL ALSO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2014 FROM 6 - 8 PM AT THE MILLE LACS BAND OF OJIBWE COMMUNITY CENTER.