Dr. Herbert Lee Pedersen

Celebrating the Life of

Dr. Herbert Lee Pedersen

December 15, 1941 – September 15, 2025

Join us in celebrating the remarkable life of Dr. Herbert Lee Pedersen, affectionately known as Herb, Pete, Dad, Papa, and Pastor. On September 15, 2025, Herb departed this earth and entered the gates of Heaven rejoicing, meeting his Savior face-to-face singing his favorite hymn "A Mighty Fortress is Our God".

Herb was born on a cold winter morning, December 15, 1941, in a two-bedroom house in Hartville, Missouri, to Roy and Geneva Pedersen. From those humble beginnings, God shaped a man whose life would touch thousands through his faith, wisdom, service, and steadfast love.

Although his early life was modest, Herb's salvation experience was a powerful work of the Lord. His sister Phyllis recently described it as "a miracle in their lives." Phyllis herself came to faith through Vacation Bible School. Not long after her conversion, their father, who had always refused to set foot in a church, felt compelled to attend a revival service. Following that, Roy strongly encouraged his eldest son to go the next evening. Despite sitting on the back row, the Lord moved in Herb's heart and led him to the altar for what became a truly life-changing salvation experience. That night marked the beginning of an entirely new chapter in his life.

Another life-changing event was the night Herb met the love of his life, Barbara Gail Holman, at an A&W Root Beer drive-in more than 63 years ago. The two were married on August 4, 1962, in Mountain Grove, Missouri, and began a lifelong journey of love, ministry, and family. Together, they raised three daughters - Rhonda Denise (DeeDee), Angela Gail (Angie), and Elizabeth Ann (Beth), each of whom would carry on their parents' legacy of faith and service. Barbara stood faithfully beside Herb, or Pete as she called him, throughout his decades of ministry.

Herb's ministry spanned over six decades, beginning at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. During his time there, he pursued higher education, earning both an associate and bachelor's degree from Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, Missouri. Sensing the Lord's call, Herb transitioned to a small Baptist church in Ash Grove, Missouri, just north of Springfield. While serving that congregation, he felt a strong prompting to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. The church supported a unique arrangement. Herb would preach on weekends, travel to Fort Worth for early Monday classes, and return home on Fridays to continue ministering to his church.

In time, God opened the door for him to move to First Baptist Kennedale, where he completed his Master of Ministry degree at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his family later returned briefly to Missouri, where he pastored First Baptist Church in Mountain Grove for eighteen months. Soon after, Herb responded to a new calling - this time back to Texas - where he took on the ministry at First Baptist Church of Oak Cliff (FBOC). There, he served faithfully for over 20 years, becoming deeply rooted in what he called his Texas family, and completing his Doctor of Theology degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Herb never imagined leaving his loving congregation at FBOC, until Dr. William Pinson, a close friend, member of FBOC and Executive Director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT), reached out to him about a position as the Director of the Missions Division Department of the BGCT. Herb felt the Lord leading him in this direction, but his love and calling to pastor churches had an ongoing tug on his heart. This yearning led him back to the ministry where he would pastor Mountain Peak Community Baptist Church and Longbranch Community Baptist Church until his retirement.

While pastoring, Herb also served in many roles at Dallas Baptist University (DBU) as an adjunct professor of New Testament, a member of the DBU Board of Trustees, the contractor of the President's Home, but most famously as the man riding in a bulldozer creating water features on the campus. DBU bestowed on him an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree in 1983. Herb's dedication to Christian education and mentorship left a lasting imprint on generations of students and future church leaders.

Those who know Herb - know his ministry went well beyond the pulpit. He made thousands of hospital visits. He drove hundreds of miles behind the wheel of the church bus steering it towards the ski slopes, youth camps and mission trips. Also in his spare time, he managed his construction company, Diversified Homebuilders, where he lived out his love for construction. He also enjoyed spending time with family in Woodland Park, Colorado.

Herb was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Geneva Pedersen, and his brothers Gerald and Garry. He is survived by his beloved wife Barbara Gail Pedersen, as well as his daughters and their spouses DeeDee and Darryl Bailey, Angie and David Cagle and Beth and Denny Savage. Herb was the proud Papa to Bobby Bailey and Barbara Bailey Hebert; Sydney, Hayley, Lynsey and Lucas Cagle; and Danielle Broyles. He is survived by six great grandchildren, Ava Mae, Jax, Jonah, Georgia, Eddy and Bailee and five siblings including Phyllis, Linda, Ronnie, Brenda and Debbie.

In these final days, the family has been blessed by the messages of love and support as well as testimonies of the many lives he touched through baby dedications, weddings, funerals and most importantly – salvation experiences.

"Well done, good and faithful servant." – Matthew 25:21

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Hillcrest Baptist Church at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24.

The viewing will take place prior to the service from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23 at Jeter and Son Funeral Home in Cedar Hill, 332 Cedar St.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Herb and Barbara Pedersen Endowed Scholarship Fund providing scholarships to Christian Ministry and Education students by visiting dbu.edu/give (Under Campus Causes and Programs, please choose the dropdown box and scroll down to "other," and click on the plus sign and type in Pedersen Scholarship).