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Herschel “Bones” Pedersen knew before he passed away this past week he would not have a funeral where a big throng would gather at the church, that his last remembrance would be a simple graveside service in American Fork with a few family members. In these days of a dark plague, this is how we do it.
In this regard, events of his 91 years of life will forever speak in Pedersen’s behalf. It will be a loud voice. And in these times, it is needed. Pedersen was an iconic basketball player for legendary BYU coach Stan Watts in the mid-’50s who later became a modern-day biblical Paul, fearless and unashamed to preach his belief in God from Denmark to the blast furnace break rooms at Geneva Steel. Pedersen was cut from his Granite High basketball team his sophomore and junior years, yet ended up leading his school to the state championship as a senior. Later he carried the Olympic torch when Utah hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics. He was a gangly teen with long arms and legs and big feet, socially awkward and shy. He could catch pheasants and fish with his bare hands as a kid. He ended up playing guard then center for Watts after helping Denmark assemble its first Olympic basketball team as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1949. He was an MVP basketball player and volleyball player for the U.S. Army, a privilege that kept him in Japan and away from the front lines of the Korean War. He was a BYU defensive superstar, playing alongside Harry Anderson, Ed Pinegar, Dean Larsen, Sherm Crump, Terry Tebbs, Willard Hirschi and others. He developed into an offensive threat and big-time rebounder at 6-foot-5 and got in trouble with Watts — to the delight of BYU fans — as a showman on the court. Bones set 17 records at BYU in his day, but most have been broken by a parade of All-Americans like Hall of Famer Kresimir Cosic, Danny Ainge and Jimmer Fredette. After one game in which Bones wooed the BYU crowd with his antics, the late Salt Lake Tribune columnist John Mooney wrote: “We don’t need the Globetrotters in Utah. We’ve got Bones Pedersen. He’s better than the Globetrotters.” After being drafted by the St. Louis Hawks, who were owned by the Anheuser-Busch brewing company, the Hawks wanted Pedersen to hawk beer in commercials. He declined a big contract worth double what he’d make at Geneva. He chose to make steel rather than push beer and play ball. He turned down a contract of $25,000 to $35,000. In today’s dollar, that would be $242,000 to $339,000.
In a thumbnail, here’s what we glean from Pedersen’s near century on earth: He learned two simple lessons of happiness. First, that belief, devotion and worship of a higher power lifts, elevates, transcends and makes everything in life more meaningful. Second, that belief in the worth of others, whether rich, poor, suffering, broken, faithless or famous, can propel one to serve them, and that single act has never-ending personal rewards and satisfaction. As a result, being around Pedersen, people found a glimpse of how they could be happier and a better person. Simple? Exactly. It was a talent. Like many star athletes, Bones Pedersen cashed in on his popularity, like his stint in the Army and a foreman’s job at Geneva. But Pedersen is a shining example to both athlete and regular father, husband, brother and son that there are far more valuable things in living a life than running around in fancy shorts. Over the years, his fame as an athlete was replaced by what he did off the court. Countless are the number of men at Geneva Steel who were lifted up by this “zealot” and “fanatic” who was not afraid to step up and offer a lifeline he knew worked. It turned some off but saved marriages, careers and souls of others.
The week his mother died was the same week he spoke at his mission farewell and left for Denmark. At that church service, scared, shy and wordless, he was never more terrified in his life. He felt guilty he had poached pheasants and sold them to rich folks in Salt Lake City. He hated speaking. He wondered if he was worthy. He stood up and managed, “Thanks for coming. Thanks for the money. God bless you. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” Frustrated and discouraged months later in Denmark, he faced a life-changing moment when he decided to get up earlier than was required, study the language more intensely and examine in greater depth what he believed. If he didn’t experience a miraculous change in his faith and ability to speak Danish, he would return home. In this personal challenge, he ended up speaking fluent Danish and transformed into a talented teacher unapologetic and confidently projecting his beliefs. The rest of his life, his voice was a tool as a teacher, mentor and counselor. Just weeks before his death and throughout the past year, while in his 90s, Pedersen entered the house of a neighbor, Doug Witt, who’d been sidelined with a nerve ailment after coming home from a project in Israel. He ministered to Doug, lifted him up, gave him kind words of encouragement, blessed and prayed with him, discussed gardening and sports. “He spent time with me that was so valuable and so uplifting to me,” said Witt the night after Pedersen’s passing. “He could have just stayed in the comfort of his home at his age, but that is not him. He was remarkable in how he lived what he believed and loved others.” This is the same experience people had with Pedersen in Nova Scotia, Boston, Colorado, Arizona, California and Auckland, as well as in American Fork, as he worked in the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple a few blocks from his home. Pedersen believed in miracles. He saw them and sought them not just for himself, but for others. “He was one of the most delightful guys we ever had at BYU,” said former athletic director Glen Tuckett. “He set the tone for our basketball team. He began a tradition back in the day when players fouled out with four fouls. He would go to the bench and shake that opponent’s hand. Pretty soon the entire team was doing that and it lasted for years. He was a great man and his life reflected that.” Tuckett called Pedersen an effervescent and positive personality. “He marched to the sound of a different drummer,” Tuckett said. “Sometimes I wondered if he was the only one in the parade.”
Pedersen once wrote, “In my life, I have seen miracles. As you go through life you have to ask questions. What must I do to gain the miracle I want? What am I not doing? What more could I do? Do these questions cause you to ponder, to think and to meditate?” Working with Pedersen’s wife, Shirley, and his nine children, American Fork 37th Ward Bishop Matthew Lewis will conduct the graveside services at American Fork Cemetery. It’s a state requirement that the gathering be very small. There will not be another memorial service whenever the COVID-19 threat is over. “My mother just wants this to be it, and let him rest in peace,” said his daughter Shelly Ebert. “Herschel Pedersen is an inspiration and source of strength to so many in our community,” said Lewis. “His devotion to God and the gospel of Jesus Christ was unwavering and had a profound impact on my life and desire to be a better person. He will forever remain in our hearts.”
Herschel Noel Pedersen, (91) second son of Oliver C. Pedersen and Phoebe Gedge passed away April 1, 2020. He is survived by his wife: Shirley Falslev Pedersen, Wayne (Lori) Pedersen, Shauna (Barry) Durrant, Sheryl (Eddy) Cook, Sheila (Scott) Kelly, Shelly (Vern) Ebert, Sharleen (Jeff) Campbell, Sharon (Brent) Bischoff, Sheree (Karl) Christensen, Shirlyn (Tim) Doman, 48 Grandchildren and 51 great grandchildren. Brothers Herbert, Keith, Galyen (Mary Ann) and Gilbert Pedersen, sisters Karen Braithwaite and Phoebe (Richard) Eason. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Kent and Elray Pedersen and sister Remore Gerber. A family graveside service, facilitated by Warenski Funeral Home will be held at American Fork Cemetery. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.warenski.com
Herschel Noel Pedersen the son of Oliver Cowdrey Pedersen and Phoebe Gold Gedge, came into this world on Feb 7, 1929. A blizzard was blowing and the doctor had a hard time getting to the house. When the doctor arrived and assessed the situation he told Grandpa Oliver “I can save the baby or I can save your wife.” The doctor was told to save the wife. So, using forceps dad was pulled out resulting in an elongated head. Dad would say, “He smashed my skull to size and told my parents I would never be normal”. Because of this he always said he wasn’t normal, he was a religious fanatic! Dad grew up with lots of cousins around and learned early in life the value of hard work and disciple. He also learned the value of manure and used it liberally through his life becoming a renowned gardener. As a sophomore in high school was 6’5” and weighed 165 pounds. Everyone started calling him Soup Bones and it stuck. He was known by many as “Bones”. Dad loved to hunt and fish. He got his first rifle and from that moment on hunting season was 365 days a year. He had chicken coops full of live pheasants. He loved to fish and tickle their bellies with his bare hands to catch them. He was the Grand Champions for hogs in the State of Utah as a 17 year old 2 years running. He was so proficient at this that he became a judge for the state in hog competitions. He loved basketball and enjoyed it but he ever made the team until he was a senior in high school. The year prior to becoming a senior he got a job tromping wool and that made his legs very strong so he could jump high. Went he went to basketball tryouts his senior year, Coach Baker said, “Are you here again?” Dad said” Coach, I think I can still play ball and I love the game. I’m just here to have some fun.” He had worked hard after being cut both his sophomore and junior year. He made the team his senior year and led Granite high to the State Championship. He was all state in Basketball and that led to a basketball Scholarship at several universities but settled on BYU. At 19 Dad got a call to serve a full-time mission in Denmark. His father and 3 of his brothers also served missions in Denmark. He served honorably for 2 ½ years and on the day he returned from Denmark, was drafted into the Army to serve in the Korean War. He was sent to Fort Ord in California and tried out for the basketball team and made it. He traveled up and down the western coast playing ball with Division one All-Stars who had also been drafted. They were all sent to Japan for deployment to Korea. While standing in line to get on the troop ships he was pulled from the line and asked, “Do you play basketball?” Dad said, “Yes, Sir!” He was told to get his buddies and they were going to play the Marines that night. They were told if they won, then they would not go to Korea. Because they had played so much together, they easily defeated the Marines and he spent the rest of his military time in Japan playing basketball and volleyball, competing against other military teams. He went on to become MVP of the division for volleyball. Upon discharge from the Army, he returned to BYU to play ball. He loved the sport and it was said by the Salt Lake Tribune: “We don’t need the Globetrotters in Utah. We’ve got Bones Pedersen at BYU. He’s a better show than the Globetrotters.” At BYU he met Shirley Falslev from Benson, Utah. They dated severe weeks and had been talking about marriage. Dad took mom on a drive up the canyon, when he told her to get in the back seat and pray about getting married. Surprisingly, she did and they prayed together. Together they went ring shopping. After several weeks of nothing happening, while Dad was dropping her off before practice, she asked, “Are you ever going to give me that ring?” He said, “It’s in the glove box if you want it.” She reached in and grabbed it and the rest is history. After getting engaged, Dad took a job for the summer in Dubois, Wyoming. While there he helped fir the Dinwitty fire and was written up in the Denver Post. The story of the BYU basketball player, carrying a 50# pack, being the first one up the mountain and then helping everyone else up. He loved working hard and playing harder. During his days playing basketball at the Y he began doing firesides and trying to inspire others to do better and live the gospel. He read the scriptures voraciously and absorbed more through fasting and prayer than others. Dad and Mom married on March 18, 1955 and started a family. They had 9 children, all boys except the last 8. He loved taking his children fishing. We had to rent 2 boats because we were many, and day would spend the day baiting the hooks, cleaning the fish and teaching us life lessons. Those lessons also came in the garden. As soon as school was out he had the whole family at the garden, hoes in toe, working the garden. Often, we didn’t want to go, but we soon learned if we didn’t have a garden, we went hungry. At harvest time he would load the kid’s arms full of vegetables and send us out to all the neighbors delivering our harvest. He was an amazing gardener and said he was never closer to the Lord then when he was on his knees in the garden talking to the Lord. Everyday people who email or call him for life advise. Harold B Lee, who had been his stake president, told him, “Never teach it if you can’t find it in the scriptures.” Every piece of advice he gave was from the good book. He found his greatest peace when reading the scriptures. In 1972 Dad was called to serve as a Regional Representative for the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He was working as a general foreman at Geneva and was concerned how he was going to fulfill that calling. However, being a man of faith, he trusted in the Lord. The day following his calling, Geneva implanted a policy that if you worked overtime, you could take days off. By putting in overtime, he was able to serve in his capacity as a Regional Rep without putting his job in jeopardy. He was assigned to the Halifax, Nova Scotia Mission, Boston, Massachusetts Mission, Colorado Mission, Arizona Mission and 4 missions in California. The day he was released from his calling as a Regional Representative, Geneva changed their policy and took away any overtime. He always said the Lord was in charge and to have faith in God and everything would work out. It was during those years he began doing even more firesides and speaking appointments, sometimes up to 4 a day. Traveling from the east coast to the west just to think he might be able to help someone find the Lord. He gave his time and knowledge to anyone who asked. When Dad was 58, he and mom was called to preside over the Auckland New Zealand Mission. They served faithfully, making many friends and lasting relationships. When they were released as mission presidents, they had been home about a year when they were asked to go to Denmark. He had been a stake missionary for 30 years always faithful in doing his “hippie” home teaching, as he had been assigned every inactive male between the ages of 19 and 30. Those were hard visits, but he never stopped going. He knew how to reactivate without offending and he never gave up. When they arrived in Denmark, they were sent to Nykobing Falster, a tiny branch with only six active members. When they came home from Denmark, there were 65 active members attending the branch. When they returned from Denmark, they were called to serve in the inaugural Mount Timpanogos Temple Presidency. He loved the temple, the power of prayer and the sealing power that he held so dear. He found great joy in being able to seal his grandchildren for eternity. Dad always gave credit to the Lord: And inasmuch as they follow the counsel which they receive, they shall have power after many days to accomplish all things pertaining to Zion. Doc and Cov 105:37 In 2002 Dad was selected by American Fork City to run the Olympic torch as it passed through the city. This was a great honor for dad and we were all so proud that he had been given the honor. When Mom and Dad were released from the temple presidency, Elder Scott asked them what they wanted to do next. Dad said they were willing to do whatever the Lord wanted. Elder Scott told him that he should spend the rest of his days teaching his children everything he has spent his life learning. He did just that! He sent out weekly emails to all his children and spent countless hours preparing his messages, with all scriptures attached, for our benefit. He loved teaching the gospel and his favorite past time- reading the good book! A man heavily involved in witchcraft in New Zealand, that dad reactivated and developed a friendship with, sent this message: I have witnessed no man on this earth I have met and spoken with in person who has the spirit with him as you do. All I know is the Lord is well pleased with you both and that his love for you and your companion. I have no doubt of, when you do leave, all hell will celebrate immensely and the breaking loose of the devil will begin in earnest.