KAROLYN PEDERSON

Karolyn Marie (Solmonson) Pederson of Mora, MN passed away peacefully after a long courageous battle with dementia on March 22, 2025, at Eastwood Senior Living. She was 85 years old.

Karolyn was born October 6, 1939, along with her twin sister Karen at their home in Mora, MN to George and Margaret (Skogman) Solmonson. They grew up on the family farm learning the ropes of farming alongside their dad. When the twins were 16 years old, their father passed away and Karolyn and Karen continued to run the farm alongside their mother, milking the cows and taking care of whatever needed to be done. Later they sold their milking cows and tended to Herefords.

Karolyn graduated from Mora High School in 1957. She worked a short time at Kanabec State Bank and Mora Public Schools before moving on to work for Mora Medical Center as a bookkeeper alongside her twin sister until retiring in 2000.

Karolyn met her husband, Arthur Pederson, at a church social and they were united in marriage on August 19th, 1961, at Emmanuel Baptist church. 

Art and Karolyn raised their four children, Scott, Todd, Kristen, and Eric, in Mora. They lived on their farm for many years, less than a mile away from her twin sister, as they enjoyed the outdoors and their animals. She enjoyed the cows, horses, cats, and dogs. 

Horses always held a special place in Karolyn’s heart. She and her sister spent much of their childhood on horseback. That love continued throughout her life, and she was always with a horse until her declining health caused them to move off their farm in 2015. However, that just meant she spent more time at her daughter’s house getting her horse time in. Karolyn passed her love of horses to her daughter and granddaughters. In her retirement years, she spent every summer weekend at horse shows with her daughter and granddaughters, cheering them on and diligently keeping times for each class (she may have been retired, but bookkeeper habits never left).

Karolyn spent much of her golden years taking care of her grandchildren. She often said her favorite place was her barn, and she made sure to always bring grandchildren out to the barn to teach them about cow and horse chores and to make sure they kept the many litters of kittens well socialized.

 She was preceded in death by her parents, and brothers George Jr. and Donald Solmonson.

Karolyn is survived by her husband of 63 years, Arthur; children: Scott Pederson; Todd (Sue) Pederson, Kristen (Mike) Osterdyk, and Eric Pederson. Grandchildren: Nicole (Riley) Priebe, Rebecca (Jordan Kirk-Moses) Osterdyk, Robert (Amber) Osterdyk; Alex Pederson, Corey Pederson, and Mya Pederson; Great grandchildren: Scarlett, Johnathan, Josephine, Kellan, Magnolia, Lucille; sister Karen Harvey, many nieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at Hamilton Funeral Homes – Akkerman Chapel. 

Memorial Visitation will be held 1hour prior to the service. 

Inurnment will be in the Oakwood Cemetery in Mora.  

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