Marlys Lyndell Pedersen was born April 18, 1936 at home on the farm in Luck, WI and passed away at Amery Memory Care in Amery on Wednesday, October 10, 2018. She was the second child of five and was a helper to her dad with farm chores. In the summer she drove tractor for field work and worked nights at the DeLuxe Theater collecting tickets and making popcorn. She graduated from Luck High School in 1954 and was salutatorian of her class. She did not use her scholarship and instead went to Minneapolis and found a job at the First National Bank in downtown Minneapolis, later transferring to West Broadway Bank in North Minneapolis and then later back to a bank downtown.
Marlys loved to travel and plan trips. She and her sister, Virginia bought a new 1956 Ford and traveled together three times to California always having girl friends or sisters with them.
On July 12, 1975, Marlys was united in marriage to Andrew (Bud) Pedersen. She moved from Minneapolis back to her home town of Luck to live with Bud and his family at the farm but continued her daily commute to Minneapolis. In May, 1976, Marlys and Bud sold the farm and built a house by Big Butternut Lake in Luck. In 1978, Marlys ended her daily commute to Minneapolis and began work at Fidelity State Bank in Luck. She worked there until she retired in 2001 after 47 years in the banking business.
In 1999, Bud passed away. Marlys then found companionship in Eiler Ravnholt. They shared a special mutual admiration and respect. They traveled, spent winters in Las Vegas, golfed, and most of all, shared the joy and love of being with each other’s families.
Marlys’ passion for travel gave her bragging rights to say she visited all 50 states and had photo albums and stories of all her adventures that we all loved to hear about. Marlys was a sports fan. She cheered on the Packers, Badgers, Braves, and liked to watch college basketball, and play golf. She was a Luck Cardinal fan and would attend almost every game of every sport, music, or drama event.
Marlys loved and was devoted to her family attending many sporting events, music and drama programs, graduations, or weddings of her children and grandchildren. Marlys would always add special touches to holiday gatherings with delicious meals, knitting a complete set of bear sweaters for the grandchildren made with love, and most of all, making everyone feel special and important. These memories will always hold a special place in our hearts. She was truly the glue that put the Pedersen family back together again.
We would like to thank the many people who were thoughtful and supportive of Marlys and were there to give her a ride, or just stop in to see how she was doing and visit! Thank you!
Marlys is survived by her sisters, Virginia (Lloyd) Nelson of Luck, Melva Jean (Weston) Plath of Hutchinson, MN, Sharon (Earl) Silbaugh of Little Canada, MN; sister-in-law, Bette Andersen of Somerset, WI; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Marlys is also survived by sons, Mark Pedersen (Kristi) of Barron, John Pedersen (Ali Bangs) of Eau Claire; daughters, Jeanne Larson (David) of Duluth, MN, Ruth Durand (Paul) of Rockford, MN, Sandra Johnson (Steve) of Grantsburg; daughter-in-law, Denise Pedersen.
There are 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren: Dagny Pedersen (Palle), Marta Lee (Jon), Elsa Pedersen, Sharon Scheidel (Andy), Daniel Larson (Leslie), Kathryn Ohlinger (James), Adam Durand (Stacy), Erik Durand (Libby), Michael Durand (Marie), Kelcy Doede (Chris), Elise Johnson, and Whitney Johnson. Rasmus, Arn and Viggo Pedersen, Annelise Lee, Fritz and Soren Scheidel, Iris and Lincoln Larson, Hans and Finn Durand, and Eloise Doede.
Marlys was preceded in death by husband, Andrew (Bud) Pedersen; parents, Joseph and Minnie Andersen; brother, Lynwood Andersen; companion, Eiler Ravnholt.
Undesignated memorials will be donated to Alzheimer’s research, West Denmark Lutheran Church or Luck Lutheran Church.
Memorial services will be held at West Denmark Lutheran Church, 2478 170th Street, Luck on Saturday, October 27 at 11 a.m. with Pastor Linda Rozumalski officiating. Visitation with family one hour before the service and there will be a lunch following the service at the West Denmark Parish Hall.
You are invited to leave condolences, memories and photos at
www.rowefh.com . Arrangements are entrusted to Rowe Funeral Home in Luck, 715-472-2444 and the Northwest Wisconsin Cremation Center in Milltown,
www.wicremationcenter.com .
