Lynn Pederson

Lynn Pederson, age 80, of Gary, S.D., passed away Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at the Sylvan Court Nursing Home in Canby, Minn.  Funeral service will be 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, at the First Ev. Lutheran Church in Gary, with Rev. Bruce Mueller officiating.  Burial will be in the Grandview Cemetery, Gary.  Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, at the Houseman Funeral Home in Clear Lake, S.D., and will resume Friday one hour prior to the service at the church.
Lynn Gordon Pederson was born September 16, 1943, to Jens and Verna (Kjelden) Pederson.
He was raised on a farm near Gary, attended Country School Dist. #57, and graduated from Gary High School in 1961. He married Jeanine (Jeanie) Brevik, his high school sweetheart, on March 20, 1965. They lived in Sioux Falls, and then moved to a farm less than a mile away from the farm he grew up on in 1967. They had three children, Laura, Jay, and Jennifer, and in addition to farming, they ran a dairy and raised cows, sheep, horses, and a variety of other animals. Lynn farmed with and drove his horses and mules in parades, horse pulls, weddings, and funerals. He enjoyed working with his family and playing with his grandchildren, especially hosting horse camp for them.
He attended college for two and a half years at South Dakota State University, the University of Minnesota, and the School of Mines & Technology. He worked as an apprentice at Behren’s Mortuary in Rapid City, as a guard at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, and then farmed near Gary for 19 years until he was elected sheriff of Deuel County. He served from 1986 until he retired in 2007. He remained retired for four years, during which he drove his mules on the 100th Anniversary Commemorative Trail Ride from Fort Pierre to Deadwood in 2008 and the Casey Tibbs Memorial Ride from Fort Bennett to Fort Pierre in 2009. In 2010, he was elected as a county commissioner and served for eight years in that position. In 2011, Lynn and Jeanie purchased the Gate City General Store in Gary. He liked stopping by the store to help Jen, and he enjoyed visiting with old friends there and making new ones.
Lynn was baptized, confirmed and a lifelong member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Gary, where he served as a Sunday School teacher, an elder, and president over the years. He was instrumental in starting the Gary Rodeo in 1972, serving as the first president and also participating as a contestant for many years. He was an active horse trader for much of his life and a collector of antique horse-drawn machinery and hearses. Some of his finds included a Civil War-era hearse, a wagon used in the movie Dances with Wolves, and a mule that appeared in The Green Mile. His team of mules also appeared in a BBC special on Custer’s Last Stand. He enjoyed his visits to see his Amish friends, and he was an avid reader and a devoted student of the scripture.
He is survived by his children, Laura (Kent) Wipf of Minnetonka, Minn., Jay Pederson of Clear Lake, S.D., and Jennifer Pederson of Gary, S.D.; grandchildren, Lindsay (Luis) Guerrero and great-granddaughter, Eden of Seville, Spain, Kyle Wipf of San Antonio, Texas, Kevin Wipf of Gary, S.D., and Lisa Wipf of Minnetonka; siblings, Roger (Delores) Pederson and Ardis Dailey White; adopted siblings, Morris Pederson, Evelyn (Mark) Carter, and Gail Kinzer; sister-in-law, Shirley Pederson; and many nieces and nephews.
Lynn was preceded in death by his wife; parents; brothers, Ardell Pederson, Randy Pederson, and Jan Pederson; adopted siblings, George Pederson and Todd Pederson; and brothers-in-law, Tom Dailey and John White.