Bennie "Ben" Pederson (1886-1936)

PEDERSON, NASSEN, PETERSON, WELLAND, WICKS, MORTVEDT

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 8/19/2024 at 16:37:35

From Story City Herald October 22, 1936 (page 1)

BEN PEDERSON DIED SUDDENLY

Well Known Local Merchant Passed Away in His Store Friday Morning

Bennie Pederson, in business here for the past dozen years, died in his store on lower main street at an early hour last Friday morning. Not having come home during the night, his wife went early to the store in the morning and was shocked beyond description to find his lifeless body there.

It seems friends had left him some time after midnight, as he went into the store. There he was struck down with a failure of the heart, as diagnosed by the coroner's doctor. His death is greatly regretted by a host of friends in and near Story City, who in the course of years had come to regard him very highly.

Funeral Held Monday

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 1:30 in the home and at 2 o'clock in the Grace church, with Rev. Bergeman officiating, a large concourse of relatives and friends being present. The singing was by a quartet consisting of the Misses James and Ahrens and Messrs. Butler and Anderson with Vernon Anderson at the piano. The pall bearers were Lars Omvig, Serral Munsen, C. F. Johnson, Lincoln Henderson, Nels Martens and Pete Peterson.

Rev. Bergeman read the following obituary:

Bennie Pederson was born on a farm near Radcliffe, Iowa, Oct. 4, 1856, and passed away in Story City Friday, Oct. 16, 1936, at the age of 50 years and 12 days. His parents were Barney and Rachel Pederson, who have passed away before him.

He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith, he having been confirmed in 1901 by Rev. Heimarck.

In 1908 he was united in marriage to Rilley Nassen. To this union three children were born, two of whom are living and one, Kenneth Virgil, who died in infancy.

Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Pederson moved to Waterloo where Mr. Pederson moved to Waterloo where Mr. Pederson was employed in the Sherwood Nursery for several years. Later they moved to a farm southwest of Radcliffe, where the family resided until moving to Story City about 12 years ago. Upon moving to Story City Mr. Pederson engaged first in the restaurant business and later in the grocery business.

He leaves to mourn his death his wife, two daughters, namely, Mrs. Arnold Peterson and Arlene of Story City, and two grandchildren. Barbara and Kenneth Peterson; also three sisters and two brothers, namely, Martha Welland of Colo, Chris Pederson of Rock Island, Ill., Sarah Wicks of Roland, Lewis Pederson and Agnes Mortvedt of Radcliffe. Two brothers have preceded him in death.

He was of a genial and quiet disposition, friendly, and well thought of by those who knew him.