Efraim Pedersen, 92, Kenmare, died Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2012, in a Minot hospital.
Efraim was born on June 4, 1920, on the family homestead north of Kenmare, in Denmark Township, Ward County, a son of Ejler and Maren Christine (Johansen) Pedersen. He was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Kenmare, on July 4, 1920. He was raised on the family farm and was educated in country schools and Kenmare schools, graduating from Kenmare High School in 1938.
His mother died the day before his eighth birthday. During his high school education, his father was suffering from ill health, so Efraim attended school during the day and farmed and cared for his father. By 1947 he bought back the family farm after it was lost during the Depression.
His brothers were living in Oshkosh, Wis., in the late 1940s when they mentioned to Efraim they knew a girl who he should meet. On Feb. 14, 1946, he began dating Margaret Rasmussen in Oshkosh. They courted for two years before being married on Feb. 14, 1948, in Our Savior's Lutheran Church, in Oshkosh.
They lived for a number of years in Oshkosh in the winter and lived and farmed on the homestead in Denmark Township. While in Oshkosh, he worked various jobs, including at Oshkosh Motors, Guernsey Dairy, Detroit-Timken Foundry and Armstrong Rug Co. Eventually they lived on the farm year round.
Efraim always worked another job while farming. He worked various construction and carpentry jobs, including the Kenmare High School, the Kenmare Senior Citizen Apartments, the Kenmare Hospital, the Kenmare Bank and the downtown Farmers Union. On Oct. 14, 1962, while working for Peter Kiewett Construction, he was seriously injured in a work accident at a missile silo by Coteau. He later worked for Ingerson Manufacturing, building campers and motor homes. He retired from farming in 1985.
Later in life, Efraim could be seen from early spring to late fall riding his scooter around Kenmare, and he was known as the town visitor.
Efraim was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Kenmare, and church was the center of Efraim's life. He had served as church president and treasurer. He was a gentle and caring person who made friends easily. He was always humming or singing a hymn. Efraim enjoyed playing all games especially pinochle. Efraim was most happy when surrounded by his family.
Those honored to share in his life are: his wife, Margaret, Kenmare; children, Michael (Terri) Pedersen, of Vernon Hills, Ill., Janet (Russ) Rhoads, Minot, Mark (Susan) Pedersen, Plymouth, Minn., Jon (Jaclynn) Pedersen, Stillwater, Minn., and Jean (Bryan) Quigley, Kenmare; 11 grandchildren, Elizabeth (Michael) Schwing, Stephen and Christine Pedersen, Sarah (Daniel) Haff, Aaron (Lindsey) Rhoads, Jeffrey, Rachel, Katelyn, David, and Maren Pedersen, Trevor (Ann) Quigley; two great-grandchildren, Noah and Mattea Quigley.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Lars Gudmund, Eiler, Maria, Lillie, Enok and Dagney; and grandson, Benjamin Pedersen.
Funeral: Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012, at 4 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Kenmare
Burial: Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, rural Kenmare.
Visitation: Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Kenmare.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to Trinity Lutheran Church, Kenmare, or Metigoshe Ministries, Bottineau.
Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).
