Diana Marie Pedersen

April 4, 1950 - March 16, 2017

DIANA MARIE PEDERSEN, 66 of Brule, passed away Thursday, March 16, 2017 at the Perkins County Hospital in Grant. Diana was born April 4, 1950 at Ogallala to Robert "Bob" and Alice (Dressler) Struckman. She graduated from Brule High School with the class of 1968. Then she attended Kearney State College for 4 years. On July 25, 1971, Diana married Don Pedersen at Zion Lutheran Church in Big Springs. The couple made their home in Brule. Diana worked as a waitress at the Holiday Inn in Ogallala for 10 years before working the next 21 years as the office manager with the Tom Spahn Insurance Agency in Ogallala. The two things of greatest importance to Diana were her Christian faith and her family. She was diligent in all things, from her housework to keeping her garden free of unsightly weeds. When Diana set her hands to purpose, she didn't do things half-way. She loved to cook and bake. She was known for making scores of Christmas cookies that always ended up in the hands of friends and family. It was typical for her to spend hours on end in the yard and garden. Shoes were an encumbrance, so Diana typically went barefoot when working around the yard. Diana's life was greatly enriched by her grandchildren, and she made special bonds with each of them. Diana was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Lisa (Stuckman) Lassiter. Survivors include her husband, Don Pedersen of Brule; sons, Jeff (Gretchen) Pedersen of Thermopolis, WY, Justin (Jennifer) Pedersen of Riverton, WY; daughter, Ashley (Brad) Shinkle of Lenexa, KS; 7 grandchildren, Mason, Creighton, Maddox, Izabella, Emma, Tanner and Bailee; brothers Mark Struckman of Maricopa, AZ, Ted (Leslie) Struckman of Loveland, CO; sister-in-law, Mary (Tony) Hill of Elridge, IA; brother-in-law, Barry (Vicy) Pedersen of Trenton; along with many other relatives and friends. Memorials are suggested to St. John's Lutheran Church in Brule in Diana's memory. Condolences can be shared online at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com, where the service will be streamed live for those unable to attend. Services will be Saturday, March 25, 2017 at 10am at St. John's Lutheran Church in Brule, NE with Pastor Jon Dickmander officiating. Burial will be in the Brule Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to service time at the church on Saturday. Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.