Belvidere, ILLeola Mae Pedersen, 93, of Belvidere, IL died peacefully, early Tuesday morning, April 30, 2013 in Maple Crest Care Centre. Leola was born March 27, 1920 in Jackson Township, Crawford Co., Iowa the daughter of William Riley and Mayme (Slegel) Maynard. Leola graduated from Grants Pass high School in Grants Pass, OR in 1936. She married John R. "Bob" Pedersen in Sycamore, IL on August 22, 1942. Leola and Bob enjoyed raising their family on a dairy farm. She also enjoyed gardening and had a "green thumb" for raising flowers Leola retired from Maple Crest Care Centre where she worked for 14 years as a nursing assistant from 1969 to 1983.Leola is loved and will be missed by her children Robert R. (Janelle) Pedersen of McAllen, TX, William F. Pedersen of Marion, N.C., Donald J. (Marilyn) Pedersen of Franklin, N.C., Ronald R (Mary Ann) Pedersen of Belvidere, IL, Tommy L. (Jeanne) Pedersen of Morris, IL, Barbara Bray of Frisco, TX twenty grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; brother Mearl (Marjorie) Maynard of Hampshire, IL; sister in-law June Maynard of Rockford, IL. Leola is preceded in death by her parents; husband John; brothers Harold, Leonard, Earl and Carl; sisters Barbara and Maxine; granddaughter Julie.