Petersburg Pilot -

Raymond Arnold Pederson, 71, left us suddenly on March 11, 2015.

He was born on January 11, 1944 in Petersburg, Alaska to Palmer and June (Nygaard) Pederson.

In 1959, Ray and his sister Joanne, moved with their mother and stepdad, George Pete Peterson, to Sierrra Vista, Ariz. They lived on base at Fort Huachuca. Ray finished the 11th grade and then enlisted in the Navy in 1961. He served for three years in the Naval Service on the USS Hancock and the USS Midway. He was honorably discharged in 1964 where he decided to return to Petersburg, Alaska.

In 1966 he married Lorraine Martinsen and in October they welcomed their daughter Dawn Renee Pederson. In the 70s and 80s Ray worked on the North Slope as a heavy equipment operator. He also lived and worked in the city of Lacy, Wash., and he worked for Western Marine.

In 1985, he started his career at the City of Petersburg. At this time he met Carolyn Welton and her three girls, Bobbie, Dondie, and Mandie. In September of 1988, he survived a plane crash near Sitka. That December, Ray and Carolyn welcomed their youngest daughter Camie Rae Pederson.

He retired from the City in 2006 where he then started work for Rock-N-Road Construction, and Petersburg Indian Association shortly after.

Ray was an avid sports fan. He spent countless hours at the gym refereeing, score keeping, and being the Vikings #1 fan. He loved his Fantasy Football League, watching sports, and playing golf in Wrangell, Palm Springs and Michigan. His family and friends meant the world to him and spending time with them brought him his greatest joy. He will be so missed for his stubborn ways, hilarious jokes, and incredible fight for life.

He is survived by: daughter Dawn Craig and her significant other Jamey Guertin and her children Dakota and Damaris Craig; daughter Camie Pederson; daughter Bobbie Lewis (Eric) and their children Guy, Tristan, Koby, Rikki and Kersten; daughter Dondie Seratte (Eric) and their children, Zachary and Kyler; daughter Mandie Whitethorn (Luke) and their children Zephrie, Jaren, Cadum .; sister Joanne Boice; nephew Derek Boice with fiancé Tiffany and daughter Kya; niece Dia Boice and children Carson and Charlie; brother Dean Peterson (Joni) Peterson and their children Drew and Dante; as well as aunt Betty Pederson and cousins Jean Curry and Roger Pederson and their families.