Leslie Maynard Pederson, age 93, of Albert Lea, formerly of Kiester, died Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2005, at the Albert Lea Medical Center.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Vinje, Iowa, with the Rev. Chris Fiske officiating. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Mittelstadt Funeral Home in Lake Mills, Iowa, and again one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Burial will be at Bethel Lutheran Cemetery in Vinje.

Leslie Maynard Pederson was born on May 11, 1912, to Olaus and Sophia (Ossen) Pederson near Thompson, Iowa. He grew up and attended school in the Thompson area. Leslie was confirmed at the Lime Creek Lutheran Church.

Leslie married Helen Westendorf in Scarville, Iowa, on Sept. 23, 1938. He farmed with his brothers in the Scarville and Leland areas. In 1950 he moved to a farm near Vinje where he farmed until 1977.

Leslie was a salesman for Pioneer Seed for over 25 years, and also sold Artstone silos for a number of years. He was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church near Vinje. Leslie retired with his wife to Kiester where they lived for 25 years and later moved to Albert Lea.

Leslie was preceded in death by his parents; five sisters: Bertha, Emma, Selma, Eva and Alice, and three brothers: Pearlin, Glen and Otto.

He is survived by his wife, Helen, of 67 years of marriage; and six children: Gerald of Mason City, Iowa, David (Diane) of Bloomington, Minn., Kathleen of Clear Lake, Iowa, Nancy (Robert) Youel of Blaine, Minn., Randy (Ann) of Grand Forks, N.D., and Lorie (Bob) Callen of Cambridge, Minn., and four grandchildren: Erin and Leslie Pederson, and Stephen and Kate Callen. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.