Violet E. Pederson, 93, of Mabel, died Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the Green Lea Senior Living in Mabel.
Violet Eunice Blomgren was born September 11, 1931, in Iowa. She was the youngest child of seven born to Elmer and Ida (Hermann) Blomgren. She attended school through the eighth grade. Instead of moving into town to continue through high school, she chose to stay on the farm to help her parents. She never regretted that decision.
She was united in marriage to Manford Pederson on June 3, 1950, at the Fremont Lutheran church. To this union five children were born: Beverly, Patricia, Susan, Barry and Allen.
The first half of married life was spent being a mom and farm wife. She raised a large garden, was a 4-H mom, she enjoyed Farm Bureau and church circle. She was proud of all her children. Two served in the military. Patricia in the Navy along with her husband, Glade, and her son Barry in the Air Force. Their deployments gave her great joy since she got to travel to their homes which included Florida, South Carolina, California, Hawaii, Wyoming and Cuba.
After raising her children, she worked part time as a cook in area restaurants. She then trained to be a nurse’s aide in her early 50s. She worked at the Green Lea Manor for 14 years until she retired. After having a fall, she moved to the assisted living and then the nursing home at Grenn Lea where she felt at home.
Her son Barry was killed in a car accident at the age of 23. That tragedy was so difficult and almost broke her.
She enjoyed bingo, an occasional casino trip, vegetable gardening, cooking delicious meals, cookbooks, puzzles and grandparenting. At the nursing home, she enjoyed bingo, the music, and all the creative activities. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Mabel First Lutheran Church, her church circle and WELCA.
Violet is survived by her children Beverly (Darrel) Olson of Preston, Patricia (Glade) Thompson of Mabel, Susan (Darrel) Skifton of Caledonia, and Allen Pederson of Nashua, Iowa. She had 12 grandchildren: Jason, Daniel, Heather, and Joshua Olson, Crystal and Paula Thompson, Michael and Brandon Skifton, Harmony, Oliver, and Elijah Pederson, and Lucy Pitzen; 21 great-grandchildren: Noah, Olivia, and Drew Olson, Austyn, Taylor, and Norah Olson, Charles, Christian, Abigail, and Anthony Graham, Valin, Athea, and Mirabell Olson, Arthur and David Mayor, Alexander Ramaker, Jon Luc and Tia Chounard, Tahlia Spears, Lily and Zack Sanders, and Lejla and Alana Kaltak; and three great-great-grandchildren: Emerson, Genevieve and Callum Olson.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Manford, son Barry, granddaughter Jennifer Olson, and siblings Harold Blomgren, Lillian Bujan, Gladys Hart, Lyle Blomgren, Marvin Blomgren and Fern Schmauss.
Special thanks to St. Croix Hospice, Grean Lea Manor, and Tim Mengis for all their support.
Funeral service will be 11 a.m., Saturday, May 17 at the Mabel First Lutheran Church in Mabel. Burial will follow in the Mabel Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m., Friday, May 16 at the Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel and one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials are preferred to Mabel First Lutheran Church or the American Legion Post 299.