Per Bjrn Pedersen, 96, of Canaan, Connecticut, died peacefully September 1, 2014, at Geer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Canaan. He was predeceased by his wife of 40 years, Grace Johnson Pedersen, in 1991. Born in Arendal, Norway on October 19, 1917, Per immigrated to the United States in 1925. A veteran of World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942 and was honorably discharged in 1945. Per was the loving father of Neil J. Pedersen and his wife Barbara H. Pedersen of Silver Spring, Maryland; David N. Pedersen of St. Louis Park, Minnesota; and Ruth Pedersen Famula and her husband Charles M. Famula of Broomfield, Colorado. He is survived by two beloved grandchildren, Lindsay M. Famula of Hackensack, New Jersey, and David J. Famula of Aurora, Colorado. He is also survived by his brother Alf Pedersen of Monterey, Massachusetts; his brother Jan Pedersen and his wife June Pedersen of Stockbridge, Massachusetts; and his sister Gloria Nicolai and her husband Peter Nicolai of Egremont, Massachusetts. Per was an accomplished construction manager and contractor. An active member of the North Egremont Baptist Church, he also served in several volunteer roles for the town of Egremont and for the Boy Scouts of America. A memorial service will be held at the North Egremont Baptist Church, Egremont Plain Road, Egremont, on Saturday, September 6 at 11:00 AM, conducted by Rev. Stephen Brown. An internment ceremony will immediately follow at Hillside Cemetery in North Egremont. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum through FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME, 426 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230. To sign the guest book or leave remembrances, go to www.finnertyandstevens.com
