Shirley A. Pederson

To join Shirley's family for her Memorial Service, please click on the Livestream link below her obituary on this page. 

Shirley Ann Pederson, 93, West Fargo, ND, formerly of Northwood, ND, passed away Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Eventide- Sheyenne Crossings in West Fargo, ND.

Shirley Ann was born to Lyle and Agnes (Olson) Merrick on March 1, 1932 in Janesville, WI. Her father died in January of 1941. Her mother then needed to go to work to support herself and Shirley, so she got a job working for the Quink (ink) division of the Parker Pen Company. In the spring of Shirley’s Freshman year in high school, the Quink plant was moved to Menomonie, WI. By that time, Shirley’s mom had become office manager and was transferred along with the CEO to Menomonie. Shirley stayed with an uncle and aunt until the school year ended in Janesville.

Shirley graduated from Menomonie High School in 1950 at the top of her class and received that year's alumni award. She was also active in theater, speech and editor of the high school annual. The following fall she enrolled at St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN, with a major in English and minors in History and Education. Upon graduation in 1954, she taught high school English for two years until problems with her voice forced her to change occupations. She then worked as a Recorder at Luther College in Decorah, IA administrative office for two years, before taking the position of Director of Parish Education at First Lutheran Church in Fargo, ND.

While there, she met, and two years later, married Alden Pederson of Northwood, ND. The two lived on the family farm and raised three children, Elizabeth (Beth), Susan and Mark. She was an at-home mother, a farm wife and an active member of Washington Lutheran Church. She served as a Sunday School Teacher and Superintendent, and Co-Superintendent of Vacation Bible School held at the sister congregation in Northwood. She was a member of Northwood Literary Club, President of the PTO, and on the Advisory Board of Lutheran Social Services in Grand Forks. Later she joined the Association of Free Lutheran Church in Larimore, where she taught an adult Sunday School Class, was elected Church Secretary of the Board, and as a Deaconess. She also joined the Grand Forks Gideon Auxiliary at that time. For nine years, she served as a leader of the Washington Willing Workers 4-H Club.

From 1986 until 2003, Shirley worked at Northwood Deaconess Health Center, first as Administrative Secretary and Administrative Assistant in Fund Development, and later as Manager of Associated Services, with continued responsibilities in Fund Development, but adding a portion of Human Resources and supervision of non-direct care departments, such as Marketing Director, Volunteer Coordinator and Women’s Health Coordinator. She retired from there in March of 2003 when she and Alden moved to Fargo. However, she continued to work part time at several different offices in Fargo until fully retiring two months before her 80th birthday.

In Fargo, Shirley was also active at Bethel Evangelical Free Church where she and Alden attended. Both served as Greeters, and Shirley also took part in Teleprayer and later as an English teacher for the English Learners Program designated to help new immigrant women from the mid-east learn English. She served for several years as a teacher and then a friend to a young Iraqi woman. She and Alden were also active members of a Bible Study group.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Alden; infant son, Stephen; sisters-in-law and spouses, Blanche (Elwood) Sather, Helen (Leon Jr.) Cockerill, and Myrna (Lawrence) Birrenkott; and brother-in-law Ralph Leet.

She is survived by her daughters, Beth LeVay, Jacksonville, FL, Susan (Mike) Smith, West Fargo, ND; and son, Mark (Brigette) Pederson, Brookings, SD; as well as grandchildren, Jordan Smith, Matthew (Karsyn) LeVay, Trevor, Trenton and Shauna Pederson; and great- granddaughter, Nora LeVay. Additional survivors are her sisters-in-law, Ione Leet and Audrey Pederson.

A Memorial Service will be held Monday, May 12 at 11AM in Bethel Church in Fargo, ND.  Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior. The burial will be in Washington Church Cemetery, Northwood, ND.