Jewel N. Pedersen

Jewel Nancy (Schleif) Pederson, 90, died Monday, December 29, 2008 at Meadowlark Hills in Manhattan. Mrs. Pederson was born July 30, 1918 at the family farm south of Belvue, Kansas, the daughter of Frederick W. and Ellen (Wooten) Schleif. She attended St. George Elementary School and graduated from St. George High School in 1936. Jewel married Sigert Pederson on February 18, 1940 at St. George, Kansas. The couple moved to Topeka and owned and operated a cream and egg supply business from 1940 to 1951. In 1951, they moved to the Branson and Kimberling, Missouri areas. Jewel worked at Silver Dollar City for more than twenty years as a secretary for the S.D.C. Food Service Company. Sigert preceded her in death on January 13, 1971. In 1988, she moved to Manhattan to be near her family. Mrs. Pederson was a life member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Helena Chapter 210 of Topeka and was a past member of the Kimberling, Missouri Lutheran Church. Jewel enjoyed needlework, word search puzzles and crocheting. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sigert, and a sister, Ruby G. Schleif on October 29, 2008. Mrs. Pederson is survived by two sisters, Wanetta Smith, Manhattan, Kansas and Crystal Lutes, Bakersfield, California and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Mrs. Pederson will be Friday, January 2, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at the Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego with Rev. Dr. Wesley Paddock officiating. Burial will be at Ozarks Memorial Park in Branson, Missouri on Saturday. Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Pederson’s name for the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital and may be left in care of the funeral home P.O. Box 48, Wamego, 66547.