L. Eugene "Gene" Pedersen

Lawrence Eugene "Gene" Pedersen, age 93, of Glendive, Montana passed away on Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at the Eastern Montana Veterans Home in Glendive. A vigil service will be held at 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at the Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. A memorial mass with military honors will be at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glendive with Father Francis Schreiber officiating. Gene was born on March 10, 1923 in Glendive, the son of Lawrence and Blanche (Gagne) Pedersen. At a young age, Gene moved with his family to Mandan, North Dakota where he graduated from high school. Gene's life had always been a busy one. He started riding saddle broncs during high school, but later found his niche in roping and bull dogging. He was drafted during WWII and the U.S. Army sent him to horse shoeing school in Kansas, followed by an assignment in the Philippines where he was wounded in combat and received two purple hearts and two bronze stars. While recuperating from the injuries that he sustained in the South Pacific, Gene obtained a degree in Ag Industry at Montana State College in 1949. While on campus, he founded the college's first rodeo in 1947 and tied for all-around cowboy at that rodeo. It was also during his time at college that he met Colleen Reynolds. They were later married on September 14, 1948 in Glendive, and to this union five children were born. Gene won the North Dakota calf roping championship at Dickinson in 1952 while he was employed at Home on the Range. He won many calf-roping and steer-wrestling events throughout North Dakota and Montana during the 1950s. During the 1970s and 80s, Gene added team roping and cow cutting to his rodeo repertoire. He organized the horse show division of the Glendive Spring Exposition and taught "On-the-Farm Training" for Army veterans for two years. Gene worked as a cattle and ranch inspector for Oppenheimer Industries for several years and was a private cattle buyer, all the while raising his own cattle and breeding Quarter horses. For twenty-three years he was an approved AQHA judge and for an even longer stretch of twenty-eight years, a NCHA judge. From 1949-1987, he participated in rodeos all over North Dakota and Montana. In 2005, Gene was honored at the American Quarter Horse Heritage Center and Museum in Amarillo, Texas during its "Celebrating 50 Years of Breeding American Quarter Horses" event. Gene and his wife, Colleen, resided on their ranch near Glendive, Montana, where they raised their five children, until he moved to the Eastern Montana Veterans Home shortly before his passing. They enjoyed staying busy attending all the rodeos that featured their children and grandchildren as participants. Gene also enjoyed pheasant hunting with his Brittany spaniel dogs. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Blanche; and one brother-in-law, David Ayre. Gene is survived by his wife, Colleen Pedersen of Glendive; his children, Nancy (Sean) Gallogly of Billings, Montana, Terry (Nancy) Pedersen of Glendive, Dale (Susan) Pedersen of Vernonia, Oregon, Robert Pedersen of Glendive, and Mary (Tim) Burman of Glendive; eight grandchildren, Kevin Gallogly, Erin Gallogly, Sean Gallogly, Jr., Katie Nave, Mackenzie Gallogly, Breann Cullinan, Brett Burman, and Sheyanne Pedersen; fourteen great-grandchildren with one on the way; one sister, Betty Ayre of Glendive; and numerous nieces and nephews. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.

L. Eugene "Gene" Pedersen

March 10, 1923 - August 10, 2016

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L. Eugene "Gene" Pedersen

March 10, 1923 - August 10, 2016

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

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