Willard Pedersen

Willard Pedersen, 94, of Northwood, ND, passed away Thursday, January 1, 2026, at Lund Home, Hospice of the Valley, in Gilbert, AZ. A memorial service will be held Friday, July 24, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Northwood Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northwood. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church.

Willard D. Pedersen was born February 14, 1931in Northwood, ND to Arlie and Cora (Breivold) Pedersen. He was baptized and confirmed at Washington Lutheran Church. He graduated from Northwood Public School where he was involved in 4H and FFA. He continued his secondary education at NDSU.

On June 6, 1954, Willard married Ruth Eileen Nelson at Northwood Evangelical Lutheran Church where they remained active members of the congregation. Willard served as a long-time usher and on pastoral call committees. 

Willard served on many executive boards including township and state boards. He was Chairman of the North Dakota Wheat Commission, Chairman of Northern Crops Institute, Chairman of Northwest Farm Managers. He served on the board of directors of the Minneapolis Grain Exchange, Alerus Financial board of directors and on the executive committee of the US Wheat Associates where he traveled to many countries promoting wheat and wheat products. He served on local and state boards and committees to tell the story of the safety and quality of our products and farming practices. He enjoyed spending time in the fields comparing crop varieties and making other agronomic comparisons with test plots on his land such as fertilizer, herbicides, growth regulations and fungicides. Willard enjoyed having NDSU soybean plots on the Pedersen land for 33 years as well as plots for Agri Sales (later bought out by ADM). In 1967, he was named North Dakota Outstanding Young Farmer and continued to be active in that alumni organization serving as President for two years. Willard and Ruth traveled extensively with the OYF program-organizing both domestic and overseas to various countries. Willard started driving a combine at the age of 12 and continued through age 85 while continuing to monitor crops into his late 80's and early 90's.

In 1996 Willard and Ruth started spending their Winter months in Sun Lakes, Az.

Willard was proceeded in death by his wife Ruth, parents, father-in-law, Art Nelson, mother-in-law, Margaret (Geddes) Nelson and bother-in-law, Norval Nelson. He is survived by his daughter Jan (Paul) Steffen of Hilton Head, SC, son Scott {LuAnn) Northwood, ND, granddaughters Shawn Thorvilson, Larimore, ND, Betsey (Derek) Gillespie, Destin, Fl and grandson Bryan of Northwood, ND, great grandchildren include Derek, Jaden and Hunter Thorvilson and McKayla Gillespie, as well as sister-in-law Audrey Nelson, three nieces, one nephew and special friend Peggy Vernon of Sun Lakes, AZ.