Doris Marie Pedersen

Doris Marie Pedersen, 87, of Livingston, MT, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of January 18, 2022. She was born in Livingston on March 13, 1934, to Olaf and Lela Eggar. Doris and her older brother, Jack, had an idyllic childhood as they grew up on F Street in Livingston with their family. She graduated from Park High School in 1952 and went on to attend Western Montana College in Dillon, where she earned a degree in Elementary Education. While in Dillon, she caught the eye of a handsome cowboy, named Norman, who almost instantly stole her heart. The young couple were married on October 16, 1965, and this was just the beginning of their journey together, as they enjoyed over 56 years of marriage. When they were first married, they moved to Horse Prairie and Doris began her teaching career in a two-room schoolhouse in Grant, MT. Together, they had an adventurous life, moving from Montana to northern Minnesota, Texas, Arizona, and back to Montana. Doris taught school along the way, where she touched the lives of many children, including her own children and grandchildren. She was an avid reader and loved to share the story, lesson learned or discuss philosophy with every chapter she finished. Doris was an accomplished artist, she expressed herself through her drawings and paintings. Many of these beautiful works of art are treasured in the homes of her precious family. She also enjoyed baking, to include the most delicious cinnamon rolls you have ever tasted! We will miss her dearly, she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, and friend. Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Olaf and Lela Eggar; and her brother, Jack. She is survived by the love of her life, Norman Pedersen; her children, Kathy (Clay) Williams, David (Becky) Pedersen, Janie and Pete Pedersen; grandchildren, Amy (Jay) McIsaac, B.J. Williams, Jennifer (Jeremiah) Maxwell, Nathan Pedersen, Angela (Patrick) Nelson, Mark (Hailey) Richey, Sean (Kate) Richey, and Jon Richey; great-grandchildren, Emily McIsaac, Kaleb Maxwell, Julie McIsaac, Mary Alice McIsaac, Eliana Maxwell, and Roald Nelson; sister-in-law Mira Gorham; and numerous precious nieces, nephews, and cousins. One of Doris' favorite excerpts from You Can't Go Home Again by Thomas Wolfe: "I have a thing to tell you: Something has spoken to me in the night, burning the tapers of the waning year; something has spoken in the night; and told me I shall die, I know not where. Losing the earth, we know for greater knowing, losing the life we have for greater life, and leaving friends we loved for greater loving, men find a land more kind than home, more large than earth. Whereon the pillars of this earth are founded, toward which the spirits of the nation's draw, toward which the conscience of the world is tending-a wind is rising, and the rivers flow". A private family gathering will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Doris' name to Livingston Home Health and Hospice, 320 Alpenglow Ln, Livingston, MT 59047. Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.