Raymond “Ray” J. Pederson, 82, of Dell Rapids, passed away on Monday, May 4, 2026 at the Avera Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. His Memorial Mass was held Monday, May 11, 2026 in St. Mary Catholic Church. Inurnment will be in the St. Mary Cemetery. Visitation was held in St. Mary Catholic Church on Sunday, May 10, 2026 with the Christian Wake Service followed by a rosary.
Raymond “Ray” James Pederson was born on October 10, 1943, in Wichita, KS, the son of Elwyn and Delight (Bechen) Pederson. He grew up between Dubuque, IA, Egan, SD, and eventually settled in Dell Rapids. He graduated from St. Mary High School in 1961 and then attended South Dakota State University. He married Jean Bunkers on August 14, 1965, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Dell Rapids. He graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in Pharmacy in 1966. The couple then moved to Scottsdale, Arizona for a year, where Ray worked as a pharmacist. In 1968, they returned to Dell Rapids, where Ray and Jean purchased the Voy Drug Store. In 1986, the couple moved the store to the 4th and LaDelle location and renamed it Ray’s Family Drug Store. They sold the store and retired in 2001. During retirement, Ray continued to work as a fill-in pharmacist for several years.
Ray was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, the Dell Rapids Fire Department, the Dell Rapids Ambulance, the Lions Club, the Jaycees, the golf course, and many other boards and committees throughout the community. He was active in supporting the community as a respected main street business owner and truly enjoyed visiting with everyone.
Ray had many hobbies and interests over his lifetime, but especially loved traveling with his wife, Jean; as well as spending treasured time at the lake in Madison and in Arizona, with family and friends. Above all else, he cherished time spent with his children and grandchildren, always encouraging and supporting each one with a gentle guidance fueled with pure love.
Ray’s presence in the lives of all who knew him is irreplaceable and he will be truly missed and forever remembered and loved.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Pat and Cliff Pederson; his sister, Dianna Kummer; and many in-laws; and the love of his life, his best friend, and wife, Jean.
Ray is survived by his 5 children, Amy Pederson; Wendy (Jon) Brown; Andy (Tanja) Pederson; Trish (Noel) Heinricy; and Sheri Dearduff; his grandchildren, Deitrich (Maggie Ahrendt) Thompson, Abby (Brian) Skrovig, Andra (Sean) Bower, Riley (Alyssa) Brown, Wes (Kaylee) Heinricy, Meg (Nic) Kahler, Spencer (Jennifer) Thompson, Adyn (Bodee Groos) Heinricy, Will Dearduff, Trey Pederson, Tessa (Chase) Otheim, and Jake Dearduff; and his great-grandchildren; Everly Thompson, Berkley Bower, Ace Kahler, Cora Heinricy, James Thompson, and Ozi Kahler.
He is also survived by his brother, Don Pederson; his sister, JoAnn Fields; and many extended family members, in-laws, nephews, nieces and friends, with a special acknowledgement to the Fields boys, who were like brothers to him.
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