With heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Arlene R. Pederson, who died peacefully on August 10, 2026, at the age of 85 of complications from dementia. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, Arlene was a woman of strength, integrity, and deep compassion. Arlene was born on September 20, 1940, in Mayville, ND and was raised on a farm near Hatton, ND where she attended the nearby Viking School through 8th grade. At 14 years old she moved to a boarding house in Portland, ND and attended Portland High School where she met Ted Pederson. After graduating from high school, Ted and Arlene moved to Fargo, ND where they both attended Interstate Business College and found their first jobs.

Arlene and Ted were married on June 12, 1960, and Arlene became a loving and supportive wife and mother to her two children through Ted’s varied career moves, starting with Burroughs Corporation in Fargo ND and ending at Tenvoorde Ford in St. Cloud MN, including the years when they owned several Mister Donut shops in North Dakota and Minnesota. Once her kids were old enough, Arlene had a chance to have her own career and spent 20 years working in the trust department at Zapp Bank in St. Cloud, MN.

After retiring, Arlene and Ted moved to Palm Desert, CA where they enjoyed an active retirement of entertaining friends, community service and singing with the Sun City Singers. Arlene loved the warm dry temperatures and lack of mosquitos that came with living in the California desert. She is survived by her son Jeff (Shannon) and daughter Jana Moe (Ted), as well as grandchildren Erik Pederson and Abby Pederson. She was preceded in death by her husband Ted, parents and her ten siblings. Arlene will be remembered for her warm smile, sunny outlook and kindness to friends even as she struggled with dementia in her final years.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Arlene’s memory to Dementia Friendly Wyoming https://dfwsheridan.org or the Alzheimer's Association at https://Alzheimer's Association /