Obituary: Lillian Pedersen

Lillian Pedersen

Lillian Pedersen, 102, of Carrington, N.D., died on Monday, September 25, 2023, at Golden Acres Manor in Carrington.

Lillian's visitation was Friday, September 29 from 5:00-7:00 p.m., followed by a prayer service at 7:00 p.m., all at Evans Funeral Home, Carrington.

A funeral service was held Saturday, September 30 at 2:00 p.m., at Evans Funeral Home, Carrington, with Rev. Russ Christianson officiating. Recorded music was "The Old Rugged Cross" and "What a Friend We Have In Jesus" by Alan Jackson. Congregational hymn was "Jesus Loves Me." Her burial was at the James River Cemetery, rural Glenfield, N.D.

Pallbearers were Derek Pedersen, Erik Flatt, Shane Erstad, Gary Ripplinger, Brandon Saeger and Bruce Gussiaas.

Honorary pallbearers: were Tricia Erstad, Elijah Bell, Enoch Bell, Moses Bell, Isaiah Bell, Hannah Bell, Lisa Ripplinger, Carla Saeger, McCall Flatt and Hilary Flatt.

Lillian Mildred Ellingson was born on June 12, 1921, in Cooperstown, N.D., to Fanuel and Marie (Stangeland) Ellingson. She grew up on the family farm, working hard alongside her parents and siblings. She attended Haven School #2, a one-room schoolhouse, and she spoke only Norwegian when she started.

After finishing the eighth grade, she attended and graduated high school in Grace City. She then attended Mayville Teachers College, earning a teacher's certificate.

She taught for three years at a one-room schoolhouse, Campbell School #1 in Rolling Prairie Township. It was then that she met her future husband, Gordon. He would light the schoolhouse stove for her, so the school was warm when she arrived.

She married Gordon Pedersen on October 11, 1946. They made their home on the original Pedersen farm and welcomed six children: Sherman, Corrine, Kendal, Mark, Kevin and Sheila.

Lillian enjoyed photography and created many scrapbooks and photo albums. She enjoyed growing African violets and orchids, jigsaw puzzles, flower gardening and a good card game of Golf. She baked delicious bread, and oatmeal raisin cookies - a limit of 2! Lillian was also known for her egg pancakes and chokecherry jelly.

She and Gordon enjoyed many travels; especially to Alaska, driving and flying there and back to visit Kendal many times.

She is survived by her children, Sherman of Carrington, N.D., Corrine Bell, Valley City, N.D., Kendal, Las Vegas, Nev., Mark, Glenfield, N.D., Kevin (Virginia), Carrington, N.D., and Sheila (Maynard) Flatt, Valley City, N.D.; grandchildren, Corrine's children: Elijah, Enoch, Moses, Isaiah and Hannah; Mark's daughter: Tricia (Shane); Kevin's children: Derek, Lisa (Gary) and Carla (Brandon) and Sheila's children: Erik (Hilary) and McCall; nine great-grandchildren: Jadyn, Chelsea, Adam, Evan, Erin, Carson, Gracie, Sydney, and Beckett and two sisters-in-law.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Gordon; her siblings, Marvel, Clifford, Franklin and Elroy; a sister-in-law; a brother-in-law and two grandsons, Andrew and Ryan.

Arrangements by Evans Funeral Home, Carrington and New Rockford, N.D.