Nels Pedersen died Feb. 22, 2013, in Phoenix, Ariz.

He was born Oct. 3, 1929, in Puyallup to Nels and Lily Pedersen. He graduated in 1947 from Enumclaw High School, where he played basketball, football and baseball and served as student body president. He had attended all of the class reunions. He served four year in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Rogers as a radio operator. He enrolled in Oregon State University in 1952, graduated in 1956 and went on to a 35-year career with Bechtel Power, retiring in 1991. Following retirement, he pursued his hobbies of golfing and woodworking.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sudie; sons Lynden and Layne; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by sister Valera Smoke.