Obituary of Virginia Pederson

Virginia Pederson, age 95, of Yankton passed away on Friday, December 5, 2014 at the Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, December 10th, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Yankton with Rev. Dave Wildermuth officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Memories. Visitations will be from 5-7 PM, Tuesday, December 9th, 2014 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton with a 7:00 PM Prayer service. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Pallbearers will be Dan Gergan, Kevin Christensen, Terry White, Danny Geditz, Steve Sprecher, and Nathan Porrras. Honorary Pallbearers will be Joshua T. White, Bruce Homan, Barbara Collins, Joann Miller, Mary Hochstein, Aves Sejnoha, Caregivers of Autumn Winds and all her dear friends. Virginia was born October 7, 1919 in rural Freeman, South Dakota to Edward and Tillie (Larsen) Christensen and grew up on the farm where she was born. She was baptized and confirmed at Salem Lutheran Church in rural Freeman. She graduated from Freeman High School in 1937. She went on to graduate from the South Dakota Beauty Academy in Sioux Falls. After graduation, she was employed at the Beauty Nook in Fantles for 7 years. She then purchased the Elite Beauty Shop from Ilene Gustad and opened her own shop in her home. After 41 years as a beautician she retired in 1981. She married Dale J. Clark on June 15, 1947. They had one daughter, Yvonne. He preceded her in death in 1956 at the young age of 36. She married Wilfred N. Pederson of Gayville, SD on March 19, 1966 at Trinity Lutheran Church. They shared their lives until his death on March 14, 1996. Virginia was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where she served on the Board of Deacons for several years. She was also a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Sacred Heart Hospital Auxiliary, the Eastern Star and the Senior Citizens. She enjoyed many activities including Traveling, playing cards, volunteering, fishing, camping, and bowling. She has resided at Autumn Winds West for the past two years. She is survived by one daughter, Yvonne (Rodger) Welsh of Apple Valley, MN; one step-son, Steven (Mary) Pederson of Cropwell, AL; one grandson, Terry, three step-granddaughters: Molly, Megan, and Amy; four great grandchildren, three nephews, two nieces and one brother-in-law, Merle Pederson of Lakeland, Florida She was preceded in death by her parents, both of her husbands, two sisters, one brother, two brothers-in-law, two sisters-in-law, and one step-son, Roger. The family wishes for memorials to be directed to: Trinity Lutheran Church, Organ Fund, 403 Broadway Avenue, Yankton, SD 57078 or The Center, 900 Whiting Drive, Yankton, SD 57078.