Julie Pederson, 60, of Buffalo Lake

Julie Pederson, 60, of Buffalo Lake, left this world surrounded by her loving family on her 60th birthday, Dec. 18, 2016, after a 21⁄2-year battle with cancer, at the Avera Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall.
She was born Dec. 18, 1956, in Montevideo, to Russell and Deloris Gabrielson of Hoffman, formerly of Milan. She has four younger siblings, Lynn (Karen) Gabrielson of Fergus Falls, Janelle (Bill) Wellnitz of Brookings, South Dakota, Larry (Kristen) Gabrielson of Alexandria and Jeanette (Dan) Weber of Alexandria. She attended school in Appleton, graduating from high school in June 1974. After dating in high school, she married her high school sweetheart, Randy Pederson, on Sept. 21, 1974, and resided in the Montevideo area. She began her career working in sales at KDMA Radio in Montevideo, moving on to retail clothing at Stevenson’s in Montevideo, being soon promoted and transferring to manage the Stevenson’s and Morey A stores in Hutchinson and Bostwicks in Montevideo. This new career path relocated the family to the Buffalo Lake area, where they became a vital part of the community. Although she really enjoyed the retail clothing business, she didn’t like retail hours, so she took a leap of faith, changing careers to manage health-care offices, first with Beeler Chiropractic in Hutchinson for 15 years, followed by nearly 10 years of service at the Buffalo Lake Healthcare Center. She enjoyed her career so much that she was actually still working for her last employer while in the care center in Marshall at the time of her death.
Mrs. Pederson also dedicated a lot of time to many great organizations. With her passion for music, she served as one of the organists at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Stewart, where she also served on the church council. She was a member of, and the gambling manager for, the Stewart Lions Club, earning recognition as a Melvin Jones Fellow and the Helen Keller Award, as well as the Lion of the Year for the local club. She served as an assistant clerk, beginning in October 2002, and later treasurer, for Boon Lake Township, until the time of her death, as well as being an active member of the Lake Allie Association. She devoted her time as a member of the Buffalo Lake Area Business Association for many yeras, and had recently served as president of the association.
But more than anything else, she was all about her family. Together with her husband of 42 years, Randy, they had three children, the oldest, Ryan (Amy) was born on Aug. 6, 1975, LeeAnn (Scott) was born on March 2, 1978, and Jason on June 5, 1980. Her family now extends to include nine grandchildren, Allison (Posy), Trent, Noah, Tyson, Madysen, Carter, Yvonne, Owen, Malachi, and a soon-to-be great-grandchild, who survive her, together with her parents, mother-in-law, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
As a final gesture to show how giving she was, Mrs. Pederson donated her corneas to the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank, so that through her death, someone else might live a full life with the gift of sight. And to further the research of dreaded diseases like cancer and to help others through study in the medical field, she donated her body to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program.
A memorial service and celebration of her life was held Wednesday, Dec. 28, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Stewart. The Revs. Mahlon Bekedam and Gerald Giese officiated the service, with music by the BASICS and organist Corey Maiers.
Arrangements were with the Hughes-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hector.