Walter Pederson, 89, died on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at Thief River Care Center in Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral service will be at 2:00 P.M on Sunday, March 4, 2007 at Zion Lutheran Church in Oklee, MN with Reverend Robert Paulson officiating. Burial will be in Zion Cemetery, Oklee, MN.

Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Saturday, March 3, 2007 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN and also at the church on Sunday, one hour prior to the service.

Walter Raymond Pederson was born on May 1, 1917 at Oklee, MN, the son of Henry and Mathilda (Hoberg) Pederson. He was baptized at Ebenezer Lutheran Church and confirmed at Clearwater Lutheran Church and attended rural Country School. Walter lived in the Oklee area from birth until he went into the army.

He entered into the United States Army June 17, 1942, serving during World War II. Walter was with the 58th Field Artillery B Battery. He saw combat in Africa, Sicily, and he landed in France on D Day, June 6, 1944. Walter was also in the Battle of the Bulge and received seven battle stars and one Bronze Star. He was Honorably Discharged on September 28, 1945. Walter spent 39 months abroad without a furlough which included three Christmass abroad during World War II and Walter felt very fortunate to come home without a scratch. Walter and his brother bought a farm N.W. of Viking, MN and farmed from 1945-1952. He also worked for farmers, logged in camps around Little Fork and Effie and in his later years he worked in the fall at the Crookston American Crystal Sugar Company for 11 Campaigns.

Walter was united in marriage to Emma Skomedal on August 23, 1952 in Thief River Falls, MN. The couple bought a farm west of Oklee, MN in 1952, and lived there always. Walter moved to Valley Home in Thief River Falls on August 9, 2002.

He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Oklee and a lifetime member of V.F.W., Post 6426 in Trail, MN.

Walter is survived by one niece, Beverly Broadrick of Peoria, AZ; two nephews, Dale Pederson of Minneapolis, MN and Dean Pederson of St. Paul, MN; nieces-in-law, Sybil Heath, Grace Jorde, Carmen Gustafson, and Penny Streifel; nephews-in-law, Jarvis Torgerson, Philip Torgerson, Dennis Pederson. Russell Johnson, and Charles Johnson; and numerous cousins.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Emma; his parents; two brothers, Elmer Pederson, in 1985 and Lloyd Pederson in 2004; sister, Mabel Green in 1977; and sister-in-law, Eva Pederson and brother-in-law, George Green.

ORGANIST: Marian Marquis
SOLOIST: Donna Fossum
SELECTIONS: Day By Day and Safely and Tenderly
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: Children of the Heavenly Father #474 and Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, #315
CASKETBEARERS: Dale Pederson, Dean Pederson, Brian Pederson, David Bourque, Mark Berberich, and Philip Torgerson