Kathleen Pederson, 69, of Dumont, formerly of Opportunity Village in Clear Lake, Iowa, died Tuesday, March 17, 2015, at Dumont Wellness Center.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bethel Lutheran Church in rural Vinje, Iowa, with the Rev. Spering Scott officiating. Inurnment will take place at Bethel Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation with her family will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Memorials may be directed to the Bethel Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund.

Kathleen Gail Pederson was born Nov. 22, 1945, in Forest City, Iowa, to parents Leslie and Helen (Westendorf) Pederson.

Kathleen grew up on a farm near Scarville, Iowa.  As an adult she lived for many years at Opportunity Village in Clear Lake. She enjoyed her job there as well as the friendship of many residents and staff members. In 2011 Kathleen moved to Dumont Wellness Center where she was cared for by many loving staff members.

Kathleen enjoyed exploring the outdoors. Growing up on the farm she spent many summer days investigating the beauty of nature. Although Kathleen had a mental disability, she had a great aptitude for remembering musical lyrics and jingles that she had heard on the radio and always had a tune to sing. She would often spontaneously invent her own lyrics to the tunes. Kathleen had a little known wit around home that would often surprise and delight the family.

Kathleen was preceded in death by her father, Leslie Pederson; and brother, Gerald Pederson.

Kathleen is survived by her mother, Helen (Westendorf) Pederson, of Cambridge, formerly of Scarville; two brothers, David (Diane) Pederson of Bloomington and Randy (Ann) Pederson of Grand Forks, North Dakota; two sisters, Nancy (Robert) Youel of Blaine and Lorie (Robert) Callen of Cambridge; as well as three nieces, Erin Pederson, Leslie Pederson and Kate Callen; and a nephew, Stephen Callen.