Dr. A.M. “Doc Pete” Pederson passed away on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas, after suffering a fall on Wednesday, February 14, at the age of 95. He was born on October 22, 1922 on the family farm in Teton County, Montana to the late Mathias and Marie (Holt) Pederson. At age six he and his brothers were placed in the Montana Children Center in Twin Bridges, Montana. He lived there until his sophomore year of high school at which time he moved to Sparta,Georgia with Dr. Paul Ensign where he graduated from Sparta High School. He was active in Boy Scouts of America attaining the rank of Eagle Scout.
Doc began the first year of his post-secondary education at Kansas University in Lawrence, Kansas. The next two years were spent at the College of Idaho in Caldwell. While there he enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces as a pilot, attaining the rank of 1st Lieutenant, during World War II. After the war he attended the University of Iowa, in Iowa City, graduating in 1946. He then went on to medical school at the University of Kansas graduating in 1951. On January 1, 1946 he was united in marriage to Nancy L. Isaacson in Topeka, Kansas. After medical school they made their home in Norton, Kansas while Doc worked for the Kansas State Tuberculosis Sanatorium before moving to Plainville, Kansas in 1953. He practiced medicine in Plainville for 38 years before retiring in 1991.
During his life in Plainville Doc served the community in many ways, not only as a physician, but through his membership in The Shriners, where he helped raise money for children’s hospitals, and served on the local school board for many years, as well as the Board of Directors for Plainville State Bank. He was also a member of the United Methodist Church in Plainville, the American Medical Association, and helped start the Plainville Jeep Club. He also loved to travel, especially with his family. One of his favorite places to visit was Glacier National Park in the Rocky Mountains of Montana. He enjoyed all live entertainment his favorites being classical and country western music.
Doc is survived by his children Christine Pederson of Santa Fe, NM, Doug Pederson and wife Ann of Topeka, Jan Becker and husband Charlie of Frontenac, and Ron Pederson and wife Jaymme of Louisville, KY; grandchildren Julie Akins and husband Travis, Lisa Wells and husband Nicholas, Jason Becker and wife Casey, David Pederson, Betsy Pederson, and Tyler Pederson; and great-grandchildren Jordan Akins, Jace Akins, Andrew Akins, Mariah Wells, Miles Wells, and Will Becker.
He was preceded in death by his parents Mathias and Marie Pederson, wife Nancy Pederson, brothers Norman Pederson, Rudy Pederson, and John Kjos, sister Esther Lee, half-sister Jeane Klette, and grandson Ryan Pederson.
In the tradition of Hippocrates, physicians conclude their promise to care for the sick by saying, “So long as I maintain this Oath faithfully and without corruption, may it be granted to me to partake of life fully and the practice of my art, gaining the respect of all men for all time.” Indeed Doc Pederson lived his life not only caring for the physical ailments of his community but their entire health, prosperity, and wellbeing. His love, compassion, and care will carry on, for he was well respected, and will be fondly remembered, forever.
Dr. A.M. “Doc Pete” Pederson passed away on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas, after suffering a fall on Wednesday, February 14, at the age of 95. He was born on October 22, 1922 on the family farm in Teton County, Montana to the late Mathias and Marie (Holt) Pederson. At age six he and his brothers were placed in the Montana Children Center in Twin Bridges, Montana. He lived there until his sophomore year of high school at which time he moved to Sparta,Georgia with Dr. Paul Ensign where he graduated from Sparta High School. He was active in Boy Scouts of America attaining the rank of Eagle Scout.
Doc began the first year of his post-secondary education at Kansas University in Lawrence, Kansas. The next two years were spent at the College of Idaho in Caldwell. While there he enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces as a pilot, attaining the rank of 1st Lieutenant, during World War II. After the war he attended the University of Iowa, in Iowa City, graduating in 1946. He then went on to medical school at the University of Kansas graduating in 1951. On January 1, 1946 he was united in marriage to Nancy L. Isaacson in Topeka, Kansas. After medical school they made their home in Norton, Kansas while Doc worked for the Kansas State Tuberculosis Sanatorium before moving to Plainville, Kansas in 1953. He practiced medicine in Plainville for 38 years before retiring in 1991.
During his life in Plainville Doc served the community in many ways, not only as a physician, but through his membership in The Shriners, where he helped raise money for children’s hospitals, and served on the local school board for many years, as well as the Board of Directors for Plainville State Bank. He was also a member of the United Methodist Church in Plainville, the American Medical Association, and helped start the Plainville Jeep Club. He also loved to travel, especially with his family. One of his favorite places to visit was Glacier National Park in the Rocky Mountains of Montana. He enjoyed all live entertainment his favorites being classical and country western music.
Doc is survived by his children Christine Pederson of Santa Fe, NM, Doug Pederson and wife Ann of Topeka, Jan Becker and husband Charlie of Frontenac, and Ron Pederson and wife Jaymme of Louisville, KY; grandchildren Julie Akins and husband Travis, Lisa Wells and husband Nicholas, Jason Becker and wife Casey, David Pederson, Betsy Pederson, and Tyler Pederson; and great-grandchildren Jordan Akins, Jace Akins, Andrew Akins, Mariah Wells, Miles Wells, and Will Becker.
He was preceded in death by his parents Mathias and Marie Pederson, wife Nancy Pederson, brothers Norman Pederson, Rudy Pederson, and John Kjos, sister Esther Lee, half-sister Jeane Klette, and grandson Ryan Pederson.
In the tradition of Hippocrates, physicians conclude their promise to care for the sick by saying, “So long as I maintain this Oath faithfully and without corruption, may it be granted to me to partake of life fully and the practice of my art, gaining the respect of all men for all time.” Indeed Doc Pederson lived his life not only caring for the physical ailments of his community but their entire health, prosperity, and wellbeing. His love, compassion, and care will carry on, for he was well respected, and will be fondly remembered, forever.