Ronald Duane Pedersen

Our strong, unflappable father, Ronald Duane Pedersen, 87, of Lake Crystal, died October 23, 2023.

He was born in Madelia, MN on January 14, 1936, to Niels and Imogene Pedersen. Niels and Imogene raised Ron on a farm outside of Lake Crystal with his sister, Isla, and brother, Neil. It was the farm where Ron learned how to handle horses, work the fields, work with livestock, fix all types of machinery, and where a love of farming was born. As a boy, Ron had a favorite pony named Toby, loved water skiing, football, fast cars, and enjoyed fun times with his many cousins. You could say he had a charmed childhood if you were unaware of just how much he worked. He worked so hard on the farm that he was known to fall asleep in a horse stall on occasion.

Ron left farming to try out city life, but welding and city life were not for him. The farm had a pace and a beauty that more aligned with his soul, and so he returned to the country where he knew he belonged. He taught his daughters hard work but also to add some fun to life. He was known to break out into a foot race to the house from one of the outbuildings, daring his kids to get to the back door before he could. And if need be, as we grew older and faster, used his body to block us, laughing enthusiastically, as we all tried to reach the door handle first. We grew up walking beans, with Dad taking 12 rows to our 4 or 6, and he learned the hard way when teaching us the levers on the honey wagon and not walking out of range in time. Later in life, he spent hours helping Sue and her family remodel the farmhouse as he transitioned off the farm.

Ron would marry Sharon, who brought with her little Marcie, in 1960. Sue was born later in the year, with Chris and Cathie rounding out the family in 1965. He would later marry Mary Lou Barnett who passed in 2006 and found love a final time when he married Marcelyn Campbell in 2007.

Inevitably, grandchildren would soon follow. First Mike and Denay Owens, then Sadie and Henry Pedersen, and finally a set of triplets, Max, Sam, and Josie Altman. He was fortunate to meet three beautiful great-grandchildren in Lincoln, Eva, and Winston Owens.

Ron had many stepchildren, step-grandchildren, and step-great-grandchildren too numerous to name.

Ron is survived by his wife, Marcelyn Campbell; daughters, Susan (Brad) Owens, Catherine Pedersen, Christine Pedersen, and Marcella (Dan) Turville; siblings, Isla Stiles and Neil (Bets) Pedersen; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law, Gary Anderson; and his nephew, Rick Stiles.

Funeral service will be held at 11am, Friday, October 27, 2023, at First Baptist Church in Lake Crystal, with visitation one hour prior. Burial following at Minneopa Cemetery. Please share a memory of Ron with his family and view his service livestreamed at www.mankatomortuary.com.

It was Dad’s wish that any memorial tributes be made in the form of a donation to the First Baptist Church of Lake Crystal or to Gideons International as they were an important part of his life.

The live stream link below is a complimentary service provided by

Northview ~ North Mankato Mortuary.

Unforeseen technical, internet, facility, and/or acoustical circumstances may produce a diminished end product. Please note, if the live stream does not appear, we are attempting to record and publish the service for later viewing.