Barbara J. Pedersen

June 18, 1926 – June 24, 2021

Longtime Othello resident Barbara Pedersen passed away peacefully on June 24 at Riverview Terrace in Spokane.

Barbara was born on June 18, 1926, to John and Royetta Somsen in Watertown, South Dakota. She attended elementary school in Castlewood, South Dakota, and secondary school in Canby, Minnesota. She graduated from St. Cloud Teachers College.

Barbara married Duane D. Pedersen on June 26, 1946. They made their home in Tyler, Minnesota, and she taught in the elementary school there until 1959.

The couple then lived in Collbran, Colorado, and Castle Dale, Utah, until 1965, adopting their daughter Kimberly in 1961.

Barbara then moved with her family to Othello in 1965. She worked for the Othello School District in the Migrant Student Records program for 25 years, retiring in 1990.

Barbara continued to live in Othello until June 2015, when she moved to Spokane.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and by her husband in 2007. She is survived by her daughter Kim and son-in-law John R. Frlan, M.D.; grandchildren Daniel, Joel, Rebekah and Rachel; and great-grandchildren Blake, Eliana, Lucas, Jethro, Indi and Shanti.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. in the Riverview Terrace Chapel in Spokane on July 8, followed by another memorial service at 10 a.m. on July 9 at Stevens Funeral Chapel in Othello.