Genny Pederson receiving the Robe of Achievement, 2014

Genny Pederson was born in Milton Junction, WI and graduated from Milton Union High School, she was not raised in a Seventh Day Baptist family. Since her marriage to her late husband Loyal Pederson, her commitment to faith and family was paramount. She was actively involved in the Seventh Day Baptist church in New Auburn, WI all her married life and continued to be active there after she became a widow.

She served as church president, vice-president, Sabbath School Superintendent, and Secretary of the Women’s Society. Genny also served as a deaconess at the New Auburn church sonce 1974, over 40 years!

Genny always wanted the church to go forward. Besides her involvement with Christian Education, her love for youth was evident through her involvement with foster kids (she had eight), foreign exchange students (she had four), leading 4-H, teaching and directing Vacation Bible School, as well as raising her own six children. She was given the 4-H Leadership Achievement Recognition as a 4-H leader. She enjoyed being a member of the community choir. She also initiated and taught Bible studies at the assisted living and retirement home.

She rarely missed a church board meeting, planning meeting, or service. For that matter neither did her whole family. She found time to help her husband with the farm and sewed clothes for her children. What a newcomer arrived at her church Genny was often the first person to greet them. invite them over for lunch, and invite them back to church. The Pederson home was very often the hospitality place for guests at semi-annual meetings, SCSCers, pastors passing through, and other people in need of a place to stay. The Pederson family attended many Conference sessions and probably got to know most of the people in the denomination.

Genny was unable to do all that she used to after a stroke but although her limitations slowed her down, they didn’t stop her. A few years before this award she studied and passed her written and road tests to obtain her driver’s license again. One of the places she drove was an exercise class three times a week, and, of course, to church services, Bible studies, women’s meetings, etc.

When the Senior Saints issued a call for volunteers to help at the Dodge Center Church and Camp Joy projects, Genny and Loyal were there to answer the call. She even spent 10 days as a volunteer at the Rez Connection in South Dakota. SCSC was near and ear to her heart. Two of her children served in SCSC and she served as project director for the New Auburn church for 10 years.

Genny was a type A personality who never failed to speak her mind, but the speeches she gave always seemed to be for the good of the church, community, or individual, not for her good. In fact there never appeared to be a selfish bone in her body. She always backed up her speaking with service. To Genny service wasn’t something she did but something she was.