Leta Pederson

Leta Elizabeth Pederson, age 99, passed away on Saturday, October 31, 2015 at the Prairie Health Care Centre in Cabri, SK. Leta was born on September 9, 1916 in Abbey, SK to Charlie and Sarah Stedwell, the youngest of six children. Her parents moved to Abbey from Iowa in the early 1900’s, making a sod house as their first prairie home before buying a ranch a few years before Leta’s birth. Growing up on the ranch, Leta began a lifelong love of horses, rodeos, and western novels. She loved attending dances held at the town hall and a nice cold beer. On June 14, 1952 Leta married Emil Pederson, who was born and raised on a farm north of Abbey.  Together, they built their Abbey home in 1957 and were involved in every aspect of community life — if a neighbor needed help they were among the first to show up and lend a hand. Leta worked as a switchboard operator and later at Hale’s General store. Emil and Leta loved to garden, although she left the vegetables to his attention in favor of growing flowers — especially geraniums and petunias. Together with Emil, Leta loved to travel locally and abroad. They would often travel overseas to visit former Abbey residents and saw much of Europe — with special stops in Adagem, Belgium, where Emil’s brother, Gordon, was buried in the military cemetery. Leta loved camping at Lac Pelletier, fishing, visiting friends and family, and family reunions. While they never had children of their own, Emil and Leta loved Elsie Foy and her children, David and Pam like their own and they took many family trips together. Leta also loved her dog, Boots, like a child. Emil and Leta enjoyed baking and sharing Norwegian specialties like lefse, flatbread, and potato dumplings — Leta especially loved making and eating crumb cake. In 2003, Emil and Leta moved from their house to Abbey Villa and later to the Prairie Health Care Centre. When Emil passed away in May 2006, they had been married for 53 years — they did everything and went everywhere together, partners in life and the truest of friends. Though Leta’s memory began to fail in the last few years, she maintained the sense of humor she was known for. The care aides at the Prairie Health Centre noticed that her mind had traveled back to her days as a switchboard operator when she was observed going through the motions of connecting telephone calls.  Leta was also overheard telling residents they should go to Hale’s store for men’s and women’s undergarments, as they had the best selection of colors and styles. Leta celebrated her 99th birthday with family and friends, as a gift before her passing Leta remembered everyone and was able to have a good visit.  Leta seemed to have been born with longevity in her bones as both of her parents lived well into their 90’s, sister Dorothy lived to be over 100, and sister Merle was the oldest woman in Canada — she passed away in 2014 just one month and one day shy of her 114th birthday. Leta is predeceased by her husband, Emil Pederson; and by her siblings, Gertrude Armstrong, Esther Stedwell, Merle Barwis, Hubert Stedwell, and Dorothy Andreas.  Leta is survived by many nieces and nephews; her extended family, Elsie Foy, David Foy, and Pam (Foy) Nairn; and her friends.

The Graveside Service for Mrs. Leta Pederson of Cabri and formerly of Abbey, took place on Thursday, November 5, 2015 at 2:00 pm from the Abbey Community Cemetery with Rev. Salesi Takau officiating.

Following the Service, a luncheon was held at the Abbey Legion Hall.

Donations to the Abbey United Church or the Abbey Community Cemetery would be appreciated by the family.

 Service Information