Ellen Birgit Pedersen, nee Ingebretsen, 94, of Park Ridge, Northbrook and The Moorings of Arlington Heights, died October 17, 2006. Born July 5, 1912 to the late Gunhild and Theodore Ingebretsen; dearly beloved wife of the late Marshall E. Pedersen, Sr. and the late Fayette Craycroft, deceased 1936. Executive secretary at Bell & Howell and the U.S. Navy Department during WWII; owner/president of John M. Pedersen & Sons Funeral Home, 1977-1983; a major fundraiser for Lutheran General Hospital; president of Norwegian-American Hospital Women’s Auxiliary; member of Chicago Norske Klub and Normennenes Singing Society; life member of Sons of Norway and Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum and contributor to Norwegian-American books. Beloved mother of Myrna, Marshall (Mary Beth) MD, Anita (Ronald) Warren and Audrey; fond grandmother of Elizabeth and Liv Pedersen and Erik Warren; dear sister of Arlene Gulliksen and the late Arthur Halvor; sister-in-law of Elysine Gorder; also survived by nieces and nephew; and cousins in Porsgrunn, Norway. Visitation Friday, 4 to 10 p.m. at Nelson Funeral Home, 5149 N. Ashland, Chicago, 60640, 773-561-5147. Parking lot NE corner, Foster and Ashland. In state Saturday, 9 a.m. and funeral 10 a.m. at Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church (Minnekirken), 2614 North Kedzie Blvd., Chicago, 60647. Interment Mt. Olive Cemetery. Memorials appreciated to Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, P.O. Box 379, Decorah, IA 52101, www.vesterheim.org
