The funeral service for Alnora Pederson, 89, of Plymouth, MN, formerly of Cottonwood, will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 17, 2022, at Christ Lutheran Church in Cottonwood.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at the church.  Interment will follow the service at Christ Lutheran Cemetery in Cottonwood.  

Alnora Mae (Hanson) Pederson, a life-long resident of Cottonwood, MN, died on January 11, 2022 at the age of 89, surrounded by her loving children.  Alnora was born in Lyon County on April 27, 1932 to Ancel and Clara (Johnson) Hanson and baptized at St. Lucas Lutheran Church in rural Cottonwood in January 1935.  She lived with her parents and eight siblings, whom she loved and admired, graduating from Cottonwood High School in 1951.  On September 15, 1951, Alnora married Lowell “Bud” Pederson at Silo Lutheran Church. With their values of loving kindness, service to others, hard work, and faith in God as guideposts, Alnora and Bud worked together on the Pederson farm in Lucas Township for over 60 years, raising their five children. Always a model for compassion and giving, Alnora nurtured her children with gentle care and also gladly cared for extended family members in her home during times of need.  An active member of Christ Lutheran Church, Alnora steadfastly demonstrated her commitment to her values and her connection to the church community throughout her life. She participated in WELCA and bible study, sang soprano in the choir, taught Sunday School, and generously served others by helping to make quilts and layettes for needy families, baking for fundraisers, and contributing to many other projects.  As a teenager, Alnora contributed to her family’s wellbeing by working at several restaurants and at Seitz Drug Store. In later years, she applied her expert sewing skills to her work as a seamstress.  Years of practice led to a similar expertise in baking, and her apple bars and doughnuts were appreciated and frequently requested by family and community members.

Alnora is preceded in death by her loving husband, Bud, parents, four brothers (Harland, Clifford, Robert, and Marvin Hanson) and four sisters (Mayme Hanson Kompelien, Dorothy Hanson Litchy, Mary Hanson Schwisow, and Susan Hanson Kubiszewski).  She is remembered with love and gratitude by her children, Steve Pederson, Paula [Brad] Muller, Diane [Scott] Hatfield, Tamara [Dennis O’Neill] Pederson, and Kevin [Lisa] Pederson, as well as six grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.  With enduring respect and admiration, we say good-bye for now to our mother and grandmother, wishing her peace and grateful for all that she taught us.