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.