Leone Frances Pedersen

Leone Pedersen, age 98, of Marshall, and formerly of Arco, Minnesota, died peacefully on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at her residence in Marshall, Minnesota. Memorial Services are 1:00 p.m. Thursday, April 4, 2024, at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Arco, Minnesota. A reception will immediately follow at the church. Visitation will be held just prior to her celebration, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., also at the church. Interment in the Arco City Cemetery will be held at a later date.

Leone Frances Pedersen (née Lake), age 98, died on the morning of March 23, 2024, at home in Marshall, Minnesota. She passed peacefully, sleeping in her favorite chair wrapped in her coziest pink house coat. Sharp and witty until the end, she was an avid reader, football fan, and bingo shark. Leone will always be remembered as a loving mother, wife, grandma, great-grandma, and soon to be great-great-grandma. She loved her family deeply and often kept up with them on Facebook, always sending the best texts and voice messages, assuring us that she was proud of us and that she made enough bingo winnings to do her laundry that week.

In true grandma fashion, she was a master at convincing folks to have a little treat or cup of coffee, and often squirreled away chocolates to send home with the grandkids. She made the best chocolate chip cookies, and passed on some truly incredible Minnesota recipes, such as Evan’s Cucumber Salad (made with Lime Jello), Ambrosia Salad, and Spam-wiches. Leone deeply enjoyed teaching the grandkids card games and how to cross-stitch, as well as telling the silliest jokes to make them laugh. When she had the opportunity, she was a skilled artist, creating embroidery and ceramic decorations to add a little beauty to the world. Her home was filled with comforts – cozy chairs, handmade quilts, and trinkets from around the world. Curious until her last day, she lived vicariously through the rest of her family as they experienced the lives that she and Erling made possible.

Leone was born in Gaza, Iowa on October 29, 1925, to parents Mary Katherine (née Dobricka) and Walter Wyman Lake, and was surrounded by siblings Glen, Kenneth, Betty, Lois, and Margie. She graduated from Lynd High School in 1942. After graduation, she briefly moved to California where she worked as a waitress while exploring her new surroundings. Upon returning to Minnesota, she married Erling Eric Pedersen on March 23, 1947. They had two children, Holly Beth and Eric Erling, while owning and running the general store and meat locker in Arco, Minnesota.

Leone was an active member of Bethany Lutheran Church, and happily volunteered with Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (WELCA). She also regularly attended Senior College at SMSU. Leone moved to Boulder Estates in Marshall, Minnesota in December 2013, where she attended church every week and joined a bible study group, finding comfort and purpose in the stories and teachings of her Lord. She thoroughly enjoyed her time at Boulder, the caring staff, fellow residents, and especially the weekly activities. 

On what would have been her 77th wedding anniversary with Erling, Leone died peacefully at her residence. Her family is comforted that she will be reunited in heaven with all the loved ones who have passed before. She leaves behind daughter Holly (Curt) Miller, son Eric (Neva Crocker) Pedersen; grandchildren Nathan Miller, (Amy Loosbrock), Liz Gillette, Katie (Adam) Beers, Evan (Heather Wray) Pedersen, Angie (Tim) Frevert, and Liv Pedersen; great-grandchildren Jimmy (Sydney) Carlson, Wyatt Loosbrock, Abby Loosbrock, Lauren (Taylor) Risacher, Izzy Gilette, McKade Gillette, Jessa Gillette, Thomas Beers, Russell Beers, Lydia Pedersen, Liam Frevert; and her dear friend Marci Fifield. She was looking forward to another great-grandchild and two great-great-grandchildren joining the family early this summer. Leone dearly loved her family above all else. We were never far from her thoughts and she will never be far from ours.