Merrill Lou Pedersen

Funeral services for Merrill Pedersen of Alexandria, MN, formerly of Morris, MN, will be held Thursday, July 16th at 11:00 a.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria, MN, with Reverend Hans Dahl officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will be Thursday July 16th at 2:30 p.m. at Summit Cemetery in Morris, MN.

Merrill Lou Pedersen was born to Carl Pedersen and Aino (Sorensen) Pedersen in Carroll, Nebraska, June 13, 1936.

As a young child, his family moved from the family farm in Carroll, Nebraska, to Minnesota. Merrill graduated from Morris High School in 1954. He attended early college in Wahpeton, North Dakota. He graduated with a degree in mortuary science from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

He was united in marriage to Marlene Y. (Fischbach) Pedersen April 3, 1958 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, in Swan Lake Township, rural Morris, MN. Their daughter Sharon was born in 1960. Merrill was a proud father to Sherry, and loved watching her play volleyball and cheer for the Morris Tigers.

Upon graduating from college, Merrill worked as an assistant funeral director for Listoe and Wold in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1963 Merrill and Marlene, and Merrill’s brother Ken and wife, Jean, started the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris. The family owned and operated the funeral home until 1992 when they sold it to the Vertin Company of Breckenridge, MN. Following retirement, Merrill and Marlene made their home on Lobster Lake, Alexandria, MN.

Merrill was a devout and accomplished fisherman, and many of his happiest moments were spent fishing with friends and family. He also enjoyed snowmobiling, hunting, and going out to dinner with friends. He was active in the Jaycees, Masons, Kiwanis, Golden K, and Alexandria Shrine. He and Marlene were members of Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria. In his retirement he loved being a grandfather and a great-grandfather. He will be remembered for his warm laugh and infinite stories.

It was a dream of Merrill’s to live on a lake, and that dream came true when he and Marlene built a house on Lobster Lake in 1992. It was a beautiful site, with great neighbors and plentiful wildlife. For 32 years he loved fishing on the lake, watching the changing seasons, and hosting friends and family.

Merrill died July 10, 2026, at the age of 90, at Bethany on the Lake in Alexandria, MN.

He is survived by one daughter: Sharon Lynn (Steven) Peterson of Eden Prairie, MN; granddaughter: Kirsten Peterson of St. Paul, MN; grandson: Kai (Desiree) Peterson of La Farge, WI; one great-granddaughter: Minerva Peterson; one sister Mary Thompson of Detroit Lakes, MN; and brother and sister-in-law Kenneth and Laurie Fischbach of Cabot, AR. Merrill is preceded in death by his wife Marlene Pedersen; parents Carl and Aino Pedersen; brothers Donald (Barbara) Pedersen and Kenneth (Jean) Pedersen; brother and sister-in-law Eugene and Vi Fischbach; and brother-in-law Jim Thompson.

Memorials preferred to Calvary Lutheran Church or the Alexandria Lakes Area of Let’s Go Fishing.

Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in care of the arrangements for Merrill.