KEITH G. passed away on June 28, 2012. He was preceded in death by his mother, Edith Pederson and father, Theodore Pederson. He is survived by his family which include his wife, Patty Sais-Pederson; son, Scott Pederson, and daughter, Lisa Pederson; brothers, Gary T. Pederson and Charlie Pederson; sisters-in-law Catherine Pederson and Lynne Pederson; niece, Martha Anderson and husband, Neil Anderson; nephews, Timothy Pederson and wife, Deb Pederson; Tedd Pederson and wife, Molly Pederson; many grandnieces and nephews; step-children, Diane Sheehy, Alison Mostert, and Dante Sais; dozens of cousins and former wife, Ruth Pederson. Keith earned his Master of divinity degree in 1969 from Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Keith, during his Master of Divinity program in 1968, he served his internship in Yellowstone, Death Valley, and Carlsbad Caverns as an employee of the National Park Service. He organized worship services for visitors with the Christian Ministry in the National Parks. At Carlsbad, he worked as a Park Ranger and gave interpretive talks about bats at dusk by the mouth of the cave when the bats emerged at dusk. He became attracted to the enchanting call of New Mexico and pondered an inspiration that he would like to retire in northern New Mexico one day. He served churches as pastor of Pioneer Lake Lutheran Church in Conover, Wisconsin; Shepherd of the Lakes church in Sayner, Wisconsin; and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Harvey, Michigan. He was called to missionary work in the Netherlands where he learned the Dutch language and preached entirely in Dutch. While he worked for the Dutch Lutheran Church, he established a Lutheran Church, he established a Lutheran Church in a new city, Lelystad, founded in 1967, on the Flevoland polder (reclaimed land) in the Netherlands. In addition, he also served an Evangelical Lutheran Church in Enkhuizen. Following his missionary service in Europe, he returned to the states where he served Grace Lutheran Church in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. He subsequently earned his Doctor of Ministry degree at Luther Northwest Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Keith retired from the ministry after 23 years of service and made good on his contemplation to return to the Land of Enchantment. He married Patty and settled down to enjoy some garden railroading, barbershop singing, and motorcycling around the Sandia and Manzano mountains as well as trips throughout the Southwest. Keith's bass voice joined in harmony with the New Mexichords Barbershop Chorus and he also sang with the Duke City Sound. He was a garden railroad club member, played the pan flute, loved motorcycle rides and trips to faraway places, especially National Parks in the United States. He is greatly missed by his loving family members, friends, and brothers in barbershop. We remember his strength and courage and ever-present support for anyone in need of a word of encouragement. He now sings with the Chorus of Angels where we look forward to one day joining him. FRENCH 1111 University Blvd NE 505-843-6333
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