Amanda Moen-Lee

Licensed Funeral Director/Manager

A native of Glenwood, Minnesota, Amanda graduated from Minnewaska Area High School in 2002. She attended the University of Minnesota, earning her Bachelor of Science Degree in Mortuary Science. After completing her internship in Minneapolis, Amanda began her career in Ortonville, Minnesota in 2008. She worked in Ortonville and then Pipestone, Minnesota before moving closer to “home.” Amanda joined the staff of Pedersen and Starbuck Funeral Home in 2017.

Amanda holds funeral director's licenses in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota and has her insurance license in Minnesota. 

Amanda lives in Morris with her daughter, Lauren, and fiancé, John Lembcke. They are members of Faith Lutheran Church. 

Brooke Christensen

Licensed Funeral Director

Brooke joined the staff at Pedersen and Starbuck Funeral Homes in July 2012. 

A native of Pierre, South Dakota, Brooke graduated from T. F. Riggs High School in 2008. She earned her bachelor’s degree in mortuary science from the University of Minnesota and received her Minnesota license in the summer of 2013. Brooke and her husband, Dane, were married on October 10, 2020. They enjoy living in Starbuck and being close to Lake Minnewaska. In their free time, Brooke and her husband like to spend time with family and friends and enjoy the outdoors. 

Colleen Neal

Office Manager

Originally from Beardsley, Minnesota, Colleen graduated from Beardsley High School in 1977 and from Alexandria Vocational Technical College in 1978. Colleen joined the staff of Pedersen Funeral Home as office manager in November 1999.

Colleen and husband, Jim, live on a farm near Alberta, MN. She has one son, four step-children and seven grandchildren. She is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Alberta, and enjoys reading, going for walks and spending time with her grandchildren.

Rose Murphy

Grief Care Coordinator

Rose grew up on a farm in the Morris area, graduated from Morris High School and the Alexandria Technical College. She enjoyed a 41-year career at the University of Minnesota, Morris. Rose joined the staff of Pedersen Funeral Home in February 2003 as a visitation assistant.

Serving families at the funeral home, along with personal experience with death and grief, spurred an interest in further study leading to completion of a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Grief Studies from the University of Minnesota, Morris in 2010. Rose has a keen interest in serving as a resource for individuals and families as they journey through grief following the death of a loved one. She will provide those grieving with an opportunity to talk about loved ones, suggest additional sources of support, and serve as a link to the funeral home for additional needs people may have.

Rose and her husband, Dan, reside in Morris, have two children and one grandson. Rose is a member of Assumption Catholic Church in Morris.

Whitney Barthel

Part-time Administrative Assistant

Whitney grew up in Milbank, South Dakota, where she graduated high school in 2004. From there, she attended Southwest Minnesota State University and earned a bachelor's degree in biology with a minor in psychology in 2009.

After taking several years off from school, Whitney started working at a funeral home in Watertown, South Dakota. In the summer of 2020, she returned to school to become a licensed funeral director. She graduated from Des Moines Area Community College early 2022 with an advanced standing diploma in mortuary science.

Whitney joined the Pederson and Starbuck Funeral Home staff in April of 2021 and has enjoyed getting to explore everything the area has to offer. She recently moved to Hancock, MN with her five children: Daniel, Frankie, George, Charlie, and Rose.

Jere Solvie

Funeral Assistant

Born and raised near Cyrus, Minnesota, Jere graduated from Cyrus High School.  He joined the staff at Pedersen Funeral Home in July 2003.

Jere is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cyrus, where he is very active in the church choir. Jere and his wife Paulette live and farm in the Cyrus area, and they have two children and one grandchild. 

Kenneth Hodgson

Funeral Assistant

Ken joined the staff at Pedersen and Starbuck Funeral Homes in 2015, after completing a career in choral directing that spanned fifty years.

The last thirty-four years were spent at the University of Minnesota, Morris where Ken developed the UMM Concert Choir into a well-recognized performing organization touring nationally, with frequent international concert tours.

After retirement, Ken moved to his second passion and developed a vineyard and winery under the non-commercial label of "K&L Vineyard".

Ken and his wife Linda live in the country west of Morris and enjoy spoiling their grandchildren and maintaining a warm and loving relationship with their many dear friends.

Tom Holm

Funeral Assistant

Dennis Wernsing

Funeral Assistant

Dennis Wernsing was born and raised in the Chokio, Minnesota area. The Chokio High School graduate attended North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota in 1971, receiving a degree in biology. Dennis enlisted into the United States Army in 1971, serving as an army paratrooper during the Vietnam War. After being honorably discharged in 1973, Dennis moved to Cooperstown, North Dakota, where he taught high school biology. Dennis felt a calling to farming, so he returned home to the Chokio area and began farming with his father. Dennis and his wife, Karleen retired from farming in 2018, moving into Chokio.

Dennis has been active on several local boards and is a member of the Chokio American Legion. He enjoys spending time golfing.

Dennis and Karleen have two children: their son, Tony (Rachel) Wernsing, Becker, MN, and their daughter Anna (Matt) Dorweiler, Chokio; they also have three grandchildren: Ben and Bob Dorweiler, Addie and Asher Wernsing.

Randy Fehr

Funeral Assistant

Randy Fehr was raised and farms in Morris, he was a 1985 graduate of the Morris Area High School. He and his wife Lori make their home in Morris and have 4 grown children and 10 grandchildren. They are active members at the Morris North Apostolic Christian Church. When not spending time with his family, Randy enjoys traveling, hunting, fishing and spending time at his hobby farm.

Lyle Rambow

Funeral Assistant

Lyle Rambow grew up in Raymond, Minnesota and graduated from Atwater High School, where he was a three sport athlete. He attended Willmar Community College, where he played football and baseball. He then attended the University of Minnesota Morris receiving his Bachelor degree in Math Education. Lyle later attended the University of Minnesota where he received his Master’s degree in Math Education. Lyle taught math at Morris High School for 36 years, where he also held the titles of varsity assistant and offensive coordinator for the Tiger football team; was head baseball coach for 30 years and assistant for 3 years and basketball coach for 7 years. He also played 16 years of town team baseball for the Raymond Rockets and Morris Eagles from 1974-1989. Retiring from MAHS in 2014, Lyle continues to teach college math classes at the UMM. He began working as a funeral assistant at Pedersen Funeral Home in March of 2016. Lyle has a knack for making the families we serve at ease. He also seems to know or have a connection to everyone in the country.

Lyle and his wife Londa make their home in Morris and have 3 children and 6 grandchildren. He enjoys pheasant hunting, dogs, water skiing, snow skiing, rock & roll, attending sporting events and especially lake life with the kids, grandkids and friends.

Londa Rambow

Funeral Assistant

Londa grew up and graduated from Raymond High School and then attended Willmar Vocational School for cosmetology.  Londa was a beautician in Morris for 42 years and owned and operated her own shop, Londa’s Looks, for 25 years.  She retired in 2019, and enjoyed the many relationships that were formed in the beauty shop.  She is married to Lyle, who taught school in the Morris schools.  They enjoyed raising their family of three children in the friendly Morris community.  After retirement, they moved to Baycrest on Lake Minnewaska in Glenwood where they are enjoying lake life and spending time with their family, including their seven grandchildren.

Londa joined the staff of Starbuck and Pedersen Funeral Homes in 2020. 

Sharon Johnshoy

Funeral Assistant

Sharon is an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Starbuck.  Sharon and her husband, Lauris, live on their family farm south of Starbuck.  Lauris passed away in 2020.  Sharon continues to live on the family farm.  Her sons and grandson continue to farm and Sharon enjoys preparing lunch for them daily and the time she is able to spend with her family.   Sharon also volunteers at the local nursing home and enjoys engaging in all of the community functions.  

Sharon joined the staff of Starbuck Funeral Home in April, 2001.

Shari Opdahl

Funeral Assistant

Shari is a life long resident of Starbuck, she continues to live just outside of Starbuck with her husband of 35 years, Donald.  They have three grown children: Brittany (Fernando), Bridget and Drew.   She taught music for 34 years and retired in 2019. In addition to teaching, she is and continues to be the church organist at Fron Lutheran church and helps her brothers at the Pastry Shoppe Rosette Factory, continuing the family business, in Starbuck,  In her spare time, Shari enjoys reading, jigsaw puzzles, walking and playing the piano.

Shari joined the staff of Starbuck and Pedersen Funeral Homes in 2020.

Sophia Carlsen

Funeral Assistant

Sophia is a 2021 graduate of Morris Area High School. While in high school she was active in Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, FFA, and choir. She is currently attending North Dakota State University to pursue a degree in Business Administration.

She was born and raised in the Morris Area and is a lifetime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cyrus. Her parents are Jerry and Clori Carlsen, and she has one brother, Jarrett. 

Sophia joined the staff of Pedersen Funeral Home in June of 2019. 

Pat Hein

Funeral Assistant

Born and raised in the Morris area, Pat graduated from Morris High School and Alexandria Technical College. Pat joined the staff of Pedersen Funeral Home in December 2018 after retiring from UMM where she worked in the Housing Office for 32 years. In 2000, she received a degree in Interior Design from The Interior Design Institute of California.  She also received a degree as a Master Gardener through the University of Minnesota.  She has two children and three wonderful grandchildren, is a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Morris and volunteers weekly at Someplace Safe and the Stevens County Museum in Morris.  Some of Pat’s hobbies are gardening, quilting, crafting, cooking, baking, reading and exercising.  

John Anderson

Funeral Assistant

John is a longtime resident of Morris, where he taught Junior High Science at Morris Area High School for over 25 years. John joined the staff at Pedersen Funeral Home in July 1992.

John and his wife Marty have five children and several grandchildren. They have been active members of Assumption Catholic Church in Morris since coming to town, and he currently serves on the Calvary Cemetery Board. Some of John’s hobbies include gardening, bird watching, fishing and playing cards.

In Loving Memory of Lauris Johnshoy

Funeral Assistant

Born and raised near Starbuck, Lauris graduated from Starbuck High School. Lauris joined the staff of Starbuck Funeral Home in April, 2001. He was a life-long member of Immanuel Lutheran Church near Starbuck. Lauris’ hobbies included farming and traveling.

In Loving Memory of Steve Hokanson

Funeral Assistant

Born and raised in Morris, Steve graduated from Morris High School in 1965. Steve worked for United Parcel Service in Morris from 1969 to until his retirement in 1999. Steve joined the staff of Pedersen Funeral Home in October 1999. Steve also ran his own lawn care service in the Morris area. Steve and his wife, Randee, have three grown children. Steve was a life-long member of First Lutheran Church in Morris, and in his personal time, enjoyed gardening and woodworking.