Mark Lee Pederson, January 28, 1988 – April 6, 2010

Mark Lee Pederson of Lyons died April 6, 2010 in Lyons following his lifelong battle with kidney disease. He was 22.

Mr. Pederson was born in Santa Clara, Calif., the son of Brett Alan Pederson and Pat Lynn Parker. He moved to Colorado with his family in 1989 and graduated from Lyons High School in 2006. He was a member of the Foothills Baptist Church, Lyons.

Mr. Pederson gallantly fought his kidney condition since birth. He had received the gift of one kidney transplant and was on the list for another at the time of his death. Never one to complain or look for sympathy, he always showed strength and optimism to those around him. He enjoyed helping friends whenever possible, be it home-repair projects, assisting in moving to a new residence or lending moral support. He spent the past number or years mentoring kidney patients at Children’s Hospital, assuring them of their ability to live long, normal, productive lives. A master of many video games, he took great delight in beating not only the game, but also family and friends.

Survivors include his mother and stepfather Pat and Steven Bates of Lyons, his brothers Levi (Jacklynn) Pederson of Longmont and Eli Pederson of Lyons, his sisters Sarah (Tom) Brown and their son Ethan, and Bethany Bates of Lyons. Further survivors include his grandparents Jesse and Carolee Bates of Longmont and Mark Pederson of Green Valley, Ariz. and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

His father, his grandparents Jeanie Pederson, Tish and Lee Parker, and his cousin Tyler Parker, preceded him in death.

Funeral services were held on April 10 at the Foothills Baptist Church in Lyons with burial following at the Lyons Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to: National Kidney Foundation of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, 3151 S. Vaughn Way, Suite 505, Aurora Colo. 80014, or www.kidneycimw.org, or the Children’s Hospital Foundation, 13123 East 16^th Avenue, Box 045, Aurora, Colo. 80045. Please share your thoughts, memories and condolences with the family at www.howemortuary.com.

Claude M. West, September 7, 1932 – April 9, 2010

Claude M. West of Lyons passed away at home on Friday, April 9 at the age of 77.

He was born in Willow, Okla. on September 7, 1932 to Chester and Juanita West.

He was married to Donna Wyer on August 30, 1952 in Denver. They have two children, Steven and Connie. He is survived by his wife, children, two grandchildren, Michael West and Justin Lambert, four great-grandchildren, his sister Colleen and his sister-in-law Jeannie. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ronald, sister Barbara, grandson Tony and his close companion – his favorite dog, Eddie.

Mr. West was a buyer for IBM by profession. He also served in the U.S. Navy Reserve from January 1951 to September 1977. He was assigned to the Air Reserve, Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees), l Surface Forces and Sub-Surface Forces. He was promoted to Master Chief in July 1969 and assigned as a Command Master Chief in January 1974. Mr. West then transferred to the Colorado Army National Guard and was assigned to HQ Battery, 1^st Battalion 157 Field Artillery, Longmont, Colo. He was promoted to Sergeant Major in May 1982 and assigned to the HHB, 169 Field Artillery Brigade in Aurora, Colo. In September 1985 he was selected as the Command Sergeant Major for the 169^th Field Artillery Brigade. In October 1988 Mr. West was attached to the MTU CO-1 in Aurora where he served with the Joint Operations training unit as the Senior NCO.  Mr. West served in the National Guard from September 1974 until his retirement in September 1992.  He had a total of 39 years, three months and 18 days military service.

Mr. West will best be remembered for his total dedication to his family, his work and the military services.

Inurnment with full military honors was held on April 13 at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver. A memorial service followed at the Ahlberg Funeral Chapel, 326 Terry St., Longmont. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Leukemia Society and/or HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield Counties, and sent to Ahlberg Funeral Chapel. Share condolences and memories at www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com.

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