Ruth S. Pederson

Ruth S. Pederson 87, formerly of Lake Mills, passed away Friday, Sept. 15, 2017 at the Lutheran Retirement Home, Northwood. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 20, at Salem Lutheran Church, Lake Mills, with Pastor Bill Peters officiating.Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Tuesday at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, Lake Mills, and again one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be held in the East Cemetery, Rake.
Ruth Sheila Pederson was born March 24, 1930, by Rake, a daughter of Selmer and Julia Emma (Taylor) Espeland. She graduated from Rake High School in 1948, and worked at Hotel Albert Lea, Albert Lea, Minnn., as a waitress. She then attended Waldorf College, Forest City, after which she worked in the office at Wilson’s, Albert Lea, Minn.
She was united in marriage to Raymond Pederson on Sept. 8, 1951, at Liberty Lutheran Church, Rake.
Ray and Ruth lived in Rake until 1962, when they purchased a farm by Lake Mills. She helped with the field work when she was needed, driving the tractor, and always cooking and baking for the family. They had two children, Victoria Lynn and Gary Lee.
Ruth was a proud mother and homemaker who put her family above all else. Ruth loved caring for and spending time with her grandchildren. She was also very active in church circles at Zion Lutheran Church, Rake, and Salem Lutheran Church, Lake Mills, where she also taught Sunday School for several years. Ruth enjoyed being a member of her neighborhood Birthday Club at Lake Mills. Ruth also loved taking care of her many pet dogs and cats over the years. She enjoyed craft work, knitting, embroidery, reading, and cooking and baking for her family.
When Ray had a stroke and moved into Good Shepherd Care Center, Mason City, Ruth moved to Cornerstone Assisted Living, so that she could visit him every day. When Ray died, she moved to Kentucky Ridge Assisted Living, also in Mason City, and enjoyed participating in many of the activities. Ruth recently moved to the Lutheran Retirement Home, Northwood.
Ruth is survived by her children: Vicky (Steve) Rye, Mason City; and Gary (Cindy) Pederson, Lake Mills; grandchildren: Sara (Derek) Thomas, Mason City; Rachel (Ryan) Torkelson, Mason City; Ben (Brooke) Pederson, Lake Mills; Ashley (Joel) Dennhardt, Iowa City; and Megan (Dan) Dietzel, Iowa City; nine great-grandchildren: Kaitlyn Lester, Eric Pals, Weston Thomas, Adriana Rye, Lila Blu Pederson, Willa Rae Pederson, Leo Pederson, Luca Pederson, Samuel Dennhardt; three step-grandchildren: Tyler Torkelson, Treyton Torkelson, and Trevor Torkelson; her brother, Stanley (Susan) Espeland; sisters-in-law: Pearl Bear, Lake Mills; Madeline Helland, Northwood; and Mae Hove, Wells, Minn.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Pederson; her parents; her stepmother. Josie Espeland; sisters: Jean Canterbury and Janice Fischbach; brother, Lynn Espeland; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Bob and Lillian Chilcote, Orin and Nella Halvorson, Mack Canterbury, Hubert Bear, Alvin Helland, and Andrew Hove, Jr.; and two great-grandchildren: Logan Ray Lester and Nola Bea Pederson.