Please click on the video tribute below to view Leslie's funeral service.

Leslie N. Pederson, 93, rural Shelly, MN, passed away on Saturday, February 24, 2024 while wintering in Arizona, where he had wintered since 1986.

Leslie was born at home on the family farm outside of Beltrami, MN on August 3, 1930, the last of 6 children born to Peder and Madsine (Laursen) Pederson. At 3 years of age, Leslie moved with his family to a farm just south of Shelly. He was educated at Serum Rural Country School and Halstad Hight School.

On November 5, 1949, Les married Mae Eley from Rural Hillsboro, ND and moved to the family farm where they lived and started their family. Les worked at various places including Cletes Boeddeker, building houses, and Jack Sipe, at the John Deer dealership in Halstad, MN, where he worked on setting up and delivering machinery. In 1955 Les purchased a backhoe and started his plumbing and trenching business, while continuing to farm and raise livestock. In 1963 Les bought the farm he lives on now in rural Shelly. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and especially mowing acres of lawn. He also loved to raise a garden, this included growing a wonderful crop of potatoes right up until last fall, and growing pumpkins to share with all his grandchildren. At his home in Arizona, he became a master of growing fruit trees.

Les had a sense of humor. He always had a joke to share, and if there was fun to be had, Les was there, even attending his granddaughter Elise's bridal shower, which everyone got a kick out of. He loved to tell a good story and was always known to start a with, "Did I ever tell you about the time…" Those stories will be remembered and missed, and so will Les.

He is survived by his children, Dale (Vicki), Ada, MN, David (Deb), Portland, ND, Vicki (Jason) Keasler, Audubon, MN, and Ricky, Randy, and Terry; grandchildren, Ryan Pederson, Hawley, MN, Stacy (Mike) Pederson-Roy, Ada, MN, Steffani Pederson, Ada, MN, Luke (Britta) Pederson, Portland, ND, Elise (Jacob) Birkeland, Minneapolis, MN, and April (Quike) Mata, Fargo, ND; great grandchildren, Madi, Emma Lee, Mikey and Joey Roy, Jordan and Emma Lou Pederson; Emilia and Sofia Mata, and Isla Birkeland; and many special nieces, nephews and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Peder and Madsine; siblings, Kye (Ann), Carl (Orva), Anne (Jacob) Vander Weg, William (Doris), and Warren (Doris); wife, Mae; grandson, James Pederson; and his furry best friend, Gus.

Funeral Service: 2:00 PM, Monday, March 11, 2024 at Shelly Marsh River Lutheran Church, Shelly, MN.

Visitation: One hour before the funeral at the church.

Interment: Marsh River Cemetery, Rural Shelly, MN.

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