Cornelia Pederson

Cornelia “Corie” Pederson, 89, a resident of rural Underwood, died Thursday, January 5, 2012, at the PioneerCare Center in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. She was born August 12, 1922, at home on the Joten Lake farm in rural Dalton, the daughter of Cornelius and Kooshe (deBloois) Mark. She grew up on the family farm and graduated from Country School District No. 20 in 1937. In her young adult life she worked at the ammunition plant in New Brighton, MN. On March 28, 1945, she married Hjalmer C. Pederson at the church parsonage in Underwood. She and Hjalmer purchased the Pederson farm which had been homesteaded in 1870 by Hjalmer’s grandfather. Corie became an incredible homemaker, preparing one excellent meal after another, cooking, baking, cleaning, sewing, gardening, canning, ironing, feeding chickens, scrapbooking, fixing anything that was broken, doing yard work, painting everything, and raising children. It is safe to say that there was nothing she could not do. A harder worker would be difficult to find. In 1964 she also went to work for the State Hospital as a psyc. tech. She enjoyed working there for 25 years. Corie loved to work, but she was likewise great at having fun. She loved the visits with her parents, brother, sisters, nieces and nephews and her children’s friends. She also loved her family in Holland and visited the Netherlands three times and developed lifelong friendships with her Dutch cousins. She loved time with her children and grand and great grandchildren. She was a tremendous organizer and orchestrator of family events. She created many, many memories for her family and friends. We know that such a long and rich life is to be celebrated, not mourned. We know that her values and influence survive because they are woven into our fabric. Yet, we will miss her terribly. Preceding her in death were her parents, her faithful husband of 64 years, Hjalmer Pederson, and her siblings, Huberdina, John and Martin Mark. Survivors include her three children: Mark (Kati) Pederson of Underwood, Marilou Pederson (Peck) of Edina, MN, and James (Susan) Pederson of Fargo, ND; seven grandchildren: Trevor (Callie) Pederson, Kelly (Denny) Bosek, Trent (Tami) Pederson, Kori Pederson (Jones), Kelsey Pederson, Elizabeth Pederson, and Zachary Pederson; six great-grandchildren: Riley and Spencer Pederson, Wyatt, Hunter and Kaden Bosek, and Isaiah Jones; sisters Nellie Larson, Bessie Swendsrud and Marie Priebnow; and brothers Henry and Floyd Mark. With grateful hearts we thank Terri Kaseman, who helped our Mother in her last vulnerable years, right up to the very end. Corie was a faithful and longtime supporter of the Sverdrup Lutheran Church. A memorial service will be held for Corie at the Sverdrup Lutheran Church in Underwood, MN on Monday, January 23, 2012, at 11 AM with lunch to follow. All are welcome to help us celebrate the life of Cornelia Pederson.  Interment will be at the Sverdrup Cemetery in Underwood. Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls is in charge of the arrangements.