Niels M Pedersen

Niels M. Pedersen, age 104, of Lake Crystal, went to be with the Lord on March 8, 2006 at the Madelia Community Hospital.

Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Lake Crystal with the Rev. Jerry David officiating. Burial will be in Minneopa Cemetery. The family will be present one hour prior to the service for anyone who would like to join them for memories and reflection. Lake Crystal Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Niels was born October 30, 1901, in Kerteminde on Denmarks Fyn Island. He was the first of five children. His father owned a blacksmith shop. Niels was only nine years old when he started working for other farmers and at the age of nineteen he had saved enough money to travel to the United States and came to Lake Crystal. He married Imogene F. Kelley on June 30, 1929 in Lake Crystal, MN.

Niels and Imogene made their lively hood farming and raising livestock. Niels always took time to go hunting and fishing and in his retirement he enjoyed relaxing and fishing on Big Sandy Lake in Northern Minnesota. He helped his sons in the spring and fall with farming well into his nineties. Niels was a long time member of the First Baptist Church where he had served as trustee and in various other offices.

Niels is survived by his three children, Isla Jean Stiles of Eden Prairie, Ronald Pedersen, and Neil Pedersen and his wife, Betty all of rural Lake Crystal; eight grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Imogene in 1992; daughter-in-law, Mary Lou in 2006; three brothers; and one sister..