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Raymond Pederson

Jan. 31, 1938-Feb. 18, 2020

Raymond Odin Peder-

son joined his soulmate

and mother of his chil-

dren, Carol Lynn, in

Heaven on February 18,

2020. He passed at

Pioneer Care in Dillon,

Montana after a short bat-

tle with cancer. Ray was

82 years old.

Ray was born January

31, 1938, in Minot, North

Dakota. Ray was the 2nd

of 7 children born to

Peder and Ida Pederson.

Ray grew up and attended

school in Minot, spending

his summers with his

grandparents and ex-

tended family of countless

cousins at the family

farm. Ray excelled in

sports, playing baseball

and basketball and shared

his melodic voice in the

school choir, graduating

from Minot High School

in 1956.

Ray spotted Carol L

Seidensticker in a grocery

store while working with

the Forest Service in Mon-

tana and married shortly

after on September 21,

1963. Together, they

raised their 4 children on

her family’s ranch in

Twin Bridges, Montana.

Ray and Carol also

opened their home to

cousins, nephews and

nieces through the years.

They eventually divorced

after nearly 30 years of

marriage.

Ray was with the U.S.

Forest Service until 1967

when he and Carol re-

turned to Twin Bridges

after the birth of their

twins. After working on

the Seidensticker Ranch

for several years, Ray re-

turned to school at Monta-

na State University in

Bozeman and obtained his

degree in Civil Engineer-

ing. Ray went on to work

with the Department of

Highways with the

Federal Government,

eventually finishing with

the Highway Department

at the Bureau of Indian

Affairs. His career had

taken him from Colorado,

to California and eventu-

ally to New Mexico. Ray

returned to Twin Bridges

after his retirement in

2013.

Ray’s passion for sports

and music lived on with

his encouragement to-

wards his children with

their sports, music, drama

and school activities. He

attended each game, tour-

nament and event, even

while attending MSU as a

full-time student. Ray was

also active in the com-

munity as a member of

the Ruby Valley Chorale,

coaching pee-wee base-

ball, working with the Boy

Scouts as a Leader and

playing basketball with

the ‘town league’ for many

years.

Ray is survived by his

children Ramie Pederson

of Bozeman, Mark Peder-

son of Absarokee, Peder

Pederson of Twin Bridges

and Laura (Robert) White

of Woodinville, Washing-

ton. He is also survived by

his grandchildren Jessica

(Marty) Holden, Jack

Pederson, Rachel Nyquist,

Fred (Bridgette) Nyquist,

Faith (Jake) Goodman and

his great-grandchildren

Van and CeeCee Holden,

Riley Nyquist and Ronan

King. Surviving siblings

include Leila (Ret. Lt. Col

Ray) Tackett of Austin,

Texas, Eunice Simbalenko

of Minot, North Dakota,

Marvin (Terri) Pederson

of Spokane, Washington,

Merle Pederson of The

Colony, Texas, Ret. Lt Col

Paul (Ruth) Pederson of

Herndon, Virginia and

Joan Curtiss of Tyler, Tex-

as. Ray also maintained

his close relationship and

is survived by numerous

cousins, nieces, nephews

and their families. Ray is

preceded in death by his

parents, former wife,

brother-in-law Levi Sim-

balenko and nephews,

Sean Pederson and Joshua

Chambers.

Cremation has taken

place and services will be

held in Twin Bridges,

Mont., at the Church of

the Valley on Thursday,

March 19th, 11 am. In-

ternment of Ray’s ashes

will be at the Twin

Bridges Cemetery and in

the family plot at Trinity

Lutheran Cemetery in

Minot, North Dakota. Ser-

vices in Minot will be

determined for a later

date. Memorials in Ray’s

name may be directed to

the Ruby Valley Chorale,

c/o Linda Holden, Twin

Bridges, Montana 59754.