Born on March 4, 1934, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Oliver Cowdery Pedersen and Phoebe Gold Gedge. He was one of ten siblings.
Gil graduated from Cyprus High School with his twin brother, Gaylen, in 1952. He served as student body president and was on the varsity basketball team. After high school, he worked in the oil fields in Big Piney, Wyoming, earning money for his college education. He graduated from BYU with a bachelor’s degree in Teacher Education and received his master’s degree from BYU in School Administration.
Afterwards, he started a long and rewarding career teaching mostly 8th grade US History. He was awarded the Utah State Outstanding Teacher of Utah History in 1969 and the Granite School District Excel Award in 1993.
While teaching history at Westlake Jr. High School, Gil met Carma LaVon Stevens and they were married on June 3, 1971, in the Salt Lake Temple. In 1976, they brought their son, Bill (age 12) into their home as a foster child and adopted him about two years later. They were sealed as a family in the Salt Lake Temple. In 1985, Bill married Karen Wagstaff and they had three children, Brian, Rebecca and Hannah. Gil’s family was the love of his life.
Gil was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many different callings. He served a Southern California mission in 1954 and was called as the Bishop of the Holladay 18th Ward in 1984. In later years, he served a church service mission at the Church History Library.
Gil was a lifelong member of the Boy Scouts of America. He served as Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Varsity Scout Coach and Explorer Leader. He was awarded the Silver Beaver in 2005.
In 1950, Gil won the Utah State 4-H Garden Award and was selected as one of the delegates to attend the National 4-H Club Congress Convention. This began his love for horticulture. His favorite hobbies were gardening, fishing, camping and hunting. He loved to stay at his cabin at Pine Mountains and enjoyed his annual trips to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He loved to have a bowl of ice cream every night and in 2011, he opened up an ice cream shop “Farr’s Fresh” in Sandy. In his autobiography, he wrote the following: “My life has been wonderful with very few regrets. I have been more than blessed in so many ways. I have lived happy, and I will die happy”.
We want to express our thanks to the nurses and aids at Elevation Hospice, especially April, in addition to the many friends, family and neighbors that brought in food and shoveled walks and mowed lawns etc.
He is survived by his son, William Pedersen (Karen); grandchildren, Brian, Rebecca and Hannah; Twin brother, Gaylen; Sisters, Phoebe Eason (Richard) and Karen Braithwaite; and Sister-in-law Shirley Pedersen.
Gil is preceded in death by his spouse, Carma LaVon Stevens; Parents, Oliver Cowdery Pedersen and Phoebe Gold Gedge; Brothers, Herbert (Marva Jeanne), Herschel, Keith (Halene), Kent (Jean) and Elray (Pearl); Sister Remore (Conread) Gerber; Brother-in-law Keith Braithwaite; and Sister-in-law Mary Ann Pedersen.
Services will be held Tuesday, February 27, 2024, 11:00 a.m. at the Holladay 25th ward on 4650 South Naniloa Drive. The family will receive friends on Monday, February 26, 2024, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the ward house on Naniloa and on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, from 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. at the same location. Interment will be held at the Wasatch Lawn Cemetery on 3401 South Highland Drive immediately following the service.
