David
Lee ‘Pete’ Pedersen, age 76 of Shelby, a life long auto mechanic and Korean War
Veteran, died peacefully at his home on Sunday due to heart failure.
His memorial service is 11:00 am Thursday at the Community United Methodist
Church. Burial with military honors will follow in the Valley View Cemetery.
Whitted Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Luella Pedersen, daughter Sandra Ann
Pedersen, and sons, Vernon (Kate) Pedersen, Michael (Deb) Pedersen and Lloyd R.
Pedersen all of Shelby. His sister, Jodi Hartwell of Colby, KS, and two
grandchildren, Gwendlyn and Jacob Pedersen of Shelby, also survive him. He is
preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Jean Pedersen and Freda Hartwell,
and a brother, Richard Skryja.
Pete was born Dec. 13, 1928 to Alfred & Ethel May (Poore) Pedersen, on the
family farm near Ethridge where he attended school. After which he served with
the US Marine Corp during the Korean Conflict and was discharged in 1951 with
the grade of Sergeant. He married Luella McLouth at the Shelby Methodist Church
parsonage Dec. 31, 1953.
Pete worked for the Ford Garage in Shelby for over 20 years, first as a line
mechanic and later as the shop foreman. In 1972 he went to work for himself and
open Pete’s Northside Garage, a business he operated with his family until the
time of his death.
Pete was a member of the Community United Methodist Church and a member of the
former Shelby Moose Lodge. He enjoyed reading western history, visiting the
mountains, but mostly working. He was an avid collector of rocks and Ford
Thunderbirds.
The family suggests memorials to the Community United Methodist Church or the
Marias Care Center.