Shirley Pederson

Shirley Pederson, age 74, of Gary, South Dakota, passed away surrounded by her family after battling cancer on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, at the Hendricks Community Hospital Nursing Home. Funeral service took place Saturday, Nov. 22, at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Gary with burial in the Grandview Cemetery in Gary. Houseman Funeral Home-Birk Chapel in Canby, Minnesota was entrusted with the arrangements.
Shirley Ann Pederson was born in Scotland, South Dakota, on August 31, 1951, to Harvey and Darlene (Nuteson) Nelson. The family moved to Gary, where she grew up and graduated from Gary High School in 1969. After high school, she lived with friends and worked in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and then Watertown, South Dakota, before returning to Gary. She also completed accounting courses at Canby Vocational Technical Institute in Canby.
On January 16, 1971, Shirley was united in marriage to Randel “Randy” Lee Pederson at the United Methodist Church in Gary, and they were blessed with two children: Stacy and Scott. Together they raised their children and built a life on the family farm. While the kids were young, Shirley sold Avon and Amway and provided daycare. As they grew older, she began a long and valued career in banking, working first at the bank in Gary and later in Toronto, South Dakota. She worked as the finance officer for the city of Gary for 11 years before retiring in 2021. After living on the farm for more than 50 years, she moved back into Gary in 2022. 
She truly enjoyed being part of her hometown. She was one of the founding members of the Gary Givers, a nonprofit organization helping those in times of need. Her involvement brought her treasured friendships, a strong sense of purpose and so much fun. Her favorite pastimes were cheering on her grandchildren in all of their activities, spending time with friends and tending to her flowers and garden. She deeply valued time with family and celebrating holidays together.
Grateful for having shared Shirley’s life are her children, Stacy (Chuck) Neubeck of Marshall, Minnesota and Scott (Tara) Pederson of Gary; her grandchildren: Devin (Megan) Neubeck and Connor Neubeck, Regan Hansen, and Aidan and Cole Pederson; her siblings, Sandy (Dave) Law and Doug (Marilyn) Nelson; brother-in-law, Roger (Delores) Pederson; sisters-in-law, Ardis White, Gail Kinzer, Evelyn (Mark) Carter; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Randy; her in-laws, Jens and Verna Pederson; and brothers-in-law, Ardell, Jan and Lynn (Jeanie) Pederson; and John White.