Ernest Pederson

Pederson Ernest A. Pederson, Jr., age 87, of Minneapolis, died on January 24. His wife, Dorothy, preceded him in death. He is survived by his children, Janice Haag & fiance Bill Haggerty, Steven Pederson & partner John Burns, Nancy Lindberg & husband Alan; grandchil dren, Kari Elizabeth Haag Branham & husband Darren; Eric Haag & wife Julie Nurnberger-Haag, Krista and Jenny Lindberg; sister, Clara Lee Davis; and niece, Jenny Davis. Born on 24 July 1915 in Detroit, MI. Ernie grew up in Grand Blanc, MI, and in high school he played football and basketball. His father managed a Ford plant in nearby Flint, and in Ernie's teens Henry Ford often joined the family for dinner when he came to inspect the plant. Ernie went on to study business management at the University of Michigan, where he played varsity football and was a teammate of President Gerald Ford. Upon graduation, he was offered a contract by the Green Bay Packers, but instead wisely chose to enroll in the Michigan graduate school business program. He received an M.B.A. in 1939, and immediately went to work for a subsidiary of General Mills in Ohio. He was drafted in early 1942 and served in the Quartermaster Corps with the rank of Major until discharge in 1945. Returning to General Mills, he worked in Detroit where he met his wife-to-be, Dorothy Peterson. They married in 1946, and in the following year they accepted a transfer to Minneapolis, were recalled to Detroit in 1949, and once again sent to Minneapolis in 1959, where they built a home in Minnetonka and lived there for the next 38 years. Stability, reliability, and civility were hallmarks of Ernie's business, religious, and family life, as he became Director of Corporate Real Estate for General Mills. He was a man of strong beliefs, high work ethics, a feminist before the term was popular, an advocate of ecumenism, an early supporter of integrated education, and was instrumental in developing a childcare center at the family's church. Dinnertime was often interesting and brought about family conversations in which Ernie's points of argument sometimes ended with phrases such as "And you believe the dictionary?" Summer meant time for the family at Lake Blackduck and a golf game that truly was for exercise and fun. In retirement, Ernie continued to work as a volunteer consultant on financial management for the Lutheran Church at the time synods were merging. He and Dorothy traveled widely and spent winters on Sanibel Island. In their last years, they lived at Walker Methodist Residence and Walker Methodist Health Care Center in south Minneapolis, to be near their son. The family is grateful to Dr. Jason Reed and his associates for medical care in their years there, and the staff of 4 Raines, especially Liz Huber, Amy James, Linda Deutsch, Annie Bhiakam, Mahadi Ramprasad, Bea Rue, Cathy Simmons, Karly Jones, Din Mohamad, Camille Covertvidmar, and Pastor Shaun Mai for their gentle, professional, and loving care. Ernie died peacefully and painlessly in the presence of his son. Funeral service at Walker Health Care Chapel, 3737 Bryant Ave. S., Minneapolis, at 1 PM Monday afternoon, January 27, with review 1 hour before the service. The family requests that any remembrance be directed to the Pastoral Care Fund at Walker Methodist Foundation, 3737 Bryant Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55409. Washburn-McReavy Davies Chapel 612-377-2203

Tributes

Ernest Pederson

January 26, 2003

Tributes

Ernest Pederson

January 26, 2003

We are here for you 24x7

Call us and get help now

(612) 377-2203