Obituary of Richard Alan Pedersen

Richard Alan Pedersen, who resided for fifteen years in the village of Bonnybrook, born in Farmington, MN on October 2, 1940, lost his valiant battle with cancer on Sunday, July 7, 2019.

He was a fan of music all his life.  He was a member of the Barbershop Society for 39 years and sang in acapella quartets for almost 38 of those 39 years, 17 of them with the same three men, “Four’s Company.”  Over the years he sang with three different choruses with one favorite memory being selected by the Society to sing in St. Petersburg, Russia at various concert halls.  While living in The Villages he sang with the “Village Voices,” “Brothers in Song,” his church men’s group, “Brotherhood of Harmony,” and a  mixed acapella quartet, “Sound Celebration.”  He also enjoyed playing golf with his friends. 

He attended Farmington, MN schools graduating in 1958.  He then went to the University of Minnesota majoring in Electrical Engineering.  He received his BS, Magna Cum Laude in 1962 and MSEE in 1964.  He was employed by AT&T Bell Telephone Laboratories.  He was an author or co-author of 10 technical publications and held seven patents.  He was honored in 1988 as co-winner of the IEEE Morris N. Liebmann Memorial Award.  In 1993 he was awarded the first annual University of Minnesota Institute of Technology Alumni Society Leadership Award.  He retired in 1995 as High Frequency Products Vice President, AT&T Microelectronics and as Director, GaAs Laboratory in AT&T Bell Laboratories. 

Dick will lovingly be remembered by his wife Robin of 35 years.  He is survived by his daughters Jodi (George) Pedersen of Big Lake, MN, Jennifer (Randy) Winders of Spokane Valley, WA; step-son Sean (Laura) Crouse of Kutztown, PA; step-daughter Alison Crouse of West Hollywood, CA; step-grandchildren Tommy, Billy, Sofie and Annie.  He leaves behind his loving siblings Betty Steege of Farmington, MN; and Roger (Darlene) of Lakeville, MN; also numerous nieces and nephews. 

Friends are invited to a Celebration of Life on July 12, 2019 at 10:30 AM at Hope Lutheran Church, Central Campus (Morse and 466) in The Villages.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Cornerstone Hospice, 601 Casa Bella, The Villages, FL  32162 or Hope Lutheran Church. 

Arrangements entrusted with HIERS-BAXLEY Funeral & Cremation Life Event Center, 3975 Wedgewood Lane, The Villages, FL  32162.   Sentiments may be left online at www.hiers-baxley.com.