Jean Pederson

Jean Pederson, 92, of Dell Rapids, passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at the Avera Dells Area Hospital. Her Memorial Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 in St. Mary Catholic Church, Dell Rapids. Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026 at Kahler-Brende Funeral Home. Inurnment will be in the Ss. Simon and Jude Cemetery, Flandreau. 

Jean Doyle was born July 2, 1933 to Dave and Grace (Jones) Doyle. She went to Smith Country School for 6 years and then graduated from Egan Public in 1951. She married Donald Birnbaum on October 11, 1952. Don was in the Navy; they were stationed on Guam. They returned to the Midwest and spent 18 years in Minnesota and then back to South Dakota in 1974 with their 4 children and settled on the Birnbaum farm near Egan. They farmed, ran a concrete construction business and bought, renovated and sold houses. Don died in 1985. Jean moved to Trent and married Maurice Miles on April 22, 1989. They travelled to over 20 countries and explored much of the US. He died in 2008. She married her high school sweetheart, Donald Pederson, on January 16, 2009 and they maintained homes in Anchorage, Alaska, Tucson, Arizona and Dell Rapids. Jean’s failing health forced them to settle in Dell Rapids. Jean was active in each parish  they lived in, teaching CRE, serving altar society offices, volunteering for several tasks. She often said she had been to Mass in churches all over the world, even the Vatican in Rome.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Donald, 3 treasured children, Janet Dibbern, Trent, Thomas Birnbaum, Trent, and Karol (Ralph) Johnson, Dell Rapids; 4 step children, Kellee (Joe) Papish, TN, Nick (JoDee) Pederson, Ana Cortes, WA, and Kerry (Mike) Riddles, Poulsbo, WA, 6 grand children and 8 great-grandchildren, Sister-in-law Bonnie Wheeler, special cousin Therese Phelan and nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents Dave and Grace Doyle, husbands Donald Birnbaum and Maurice Miles, son Anthony Birnbaum, son-in-law Michael Dibbern and step-daughter Casey Riley.

She enjoyed her “Dear Friends” groups: Bridge, Mahjong, Egan Alumni Women, Moody County Women Club, and Trent Coffee Ladies.

Honorary Pallbearers are her grandchildren and great grandchildren; Chad Hasvold, Caleb Dibbern, Tanner (Angelica) Dibbern, Crystal (Steve) Shaw, Elijah (Michela) Johnson, Sydney Pederson, Thomas Hasvold, George Hasvold, Xander Dibbern, Aurora Dibbern, Ella Dibbern, Grace Boylan, Ella Shaw, Paisley Johnson.

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