Olive Regina Martel was born July 10, 1918 in Grand Forks, ND, to Eddeas and Annie (Kindseth) Martel. At the young age of 2, Olive moved with her family to Alberta, Canada, where she attended school and spent her childhood. When she was 16, she moved back to the Gary, MN, area. On February 15, 1943 Olive was united in marriage to Calmer Pederson and together they had five children. Olive lived several years on the farm south of the Waukon Store. During that time she worked for Arnold Martinson picking potatoes each fall. After moving to Twin Valley, she worked at the nursing home in the laundry department and at Viking Snowmobile Manufacturing. After residing at Lincoln Terrace Apartments, Olive made the Mahnomen Health Center her home in July of 2008. On Tuesday, June 22, 2010 Olive Pederson died peacefully in the arms of Jesus at the age of 91 at the Mahnomen Health Center Nursing Home.

Over the years, Olive has sown many outfits for her children and knitted many other items. She enjoyed baking, whether it would be breads, rolls or always having a full supply of cookies in the large bread tin on top of her fridge. In her younger years, she drove in the Powder Puff Derbies at the Gary Speedway and had a genuine love for horses. Olive volunteered for 30+ years at the nursing home.

Olive loved the Lord and walked with Him. This love was evident in her daily routine. She was a member of Ness Lutheran Church, rural Gary and later the Good News Fellowship in Gary. For many years, she took an active part in the church and ladies aid, even volunteering on a mission trip to Haiti and also to Mexico, to help those in need.

Olive is survived by her children: LaVonne (Ron) Voltz, Mahnomen, MN, Ken (Pauline) Pederson, Hawley, MN, Arlin Pederson, Moorhead, MN, Arvid (Patricia) Pederson, Thaxton, VA, and LuAnne (Steve) Basney, Cokato, MN; 24 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, Kay Martel, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Elvina Anderson, Twin Valley, MN, and Fern Pederson, Mahnomen, MN; many nieces, nephews, and several cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers; three sisters; and a granddaughter, Michelle LaRae Voltz.

Funeral services were held Friday, June 25, 2010 at 11: AM at the Good News Fellowship in Gary. Officiating was Pastor Norm Gullingsrud with Lavon Cook serving as organist and LuAnne Basney and Joe & Kathy Andersen serving as vocalists. Pallbearers were Terri Horn, Rebecca Scott, Daniel Pederson, Jason Pederson, Andrew Pederson and Alison Basney. Honorary Pallbearers were Olive's grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Inurnment was in the Ness Lutheran Church, rural Gary, MN.