Rhonda Faye Pedersen

Memorial services for Rhonda Pedersen will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, March 10, 2016 at Gillette Memorial Chapel with Brad Powell officiating. Rhonda Faye Pedersen, age 63, passed away peacefully in her home on Thursday, March 2, 2017 in Gillette, Wyoming. She was born in Dickinson, North Dakota on August 14, 1953 to Ernest and Viola Homiston and was the youngest of three children.Rhonda grew up in Watford City, North Dakota and had her son, Dustin in 1970 and her daughter, Brandi in 1973. When her children were young, Rhonda began working at her family's bar, Hommie's Bar in nearby Arnegard, North Dakota where she met her husband William "Bill" Pedersen. Rhonda and Bill married in Arnegard on December 11, 1976 and moved the family to Gillette, Wyoming the following month. In 1995 her first granddaughter, Tanner was born. Tanner was raised by Bill and Rhonda and was the light of Grandma's eye and more like a Mother than a Grandmother. In 1998 they were blessed with another beautiful granddaughter, Falon. In recent years, Grandma and Falon had become very close spending lots of time talking and sharing stories. She loved the girls so very much. Over the years Rhonda worked in real estate and legal offices and also owned a pet store. She had a special gift and was an amazingly talented seamstress. Besides sewing clothing and costumes for her family and friends, she also sewed beautiful outfits for the rodeo queens and a gorgeous wedding dress for Brittniy Castleberry. Brittniy and her brother Cameron were like second grandchildren to Rhonda and Bill and their kids were like their great grandkids. Rhonda was a perfectionist with her sewing and if she didn't like the way something was turning out, she would rip it apart and start all over. She was well known for her sewing and she loved making people happy with her art. Rhonda fought a long battle with many different health issues over the years, but she rarely let it show. She was always well-dressed with her hair and nails done and that bright, beautiful smile on her face. She really loved going to the salon with her granddaughters. Rhonda never knew a stranger and would strike up a conversation with everyone she met. She had a wonderful sense of humor and would joke and laugh despite the way she was feeling. She loved animals and had several different types of pets over the years from cats, dogs and fish, to exotic parrots. One parrot in particular she didn't get along with and sure enough, it eventually ended up for sale in her pet store. Her dogs were like her children. Friends and family would come into the house and say how good it smelled assuming she was making dinner for the family, but often it was the boiled chicken and rice she made each day for her dogs. More than a few people have said that they would like to come back reincarnated as one of her dogs. Some of us even decided to eat the dog food, which was delicious of course. When Rhonda was young she spent summers with her Grandmother who taught her how to sew and cook. She took care of people with these two talents for many, many years. She invited people into her home and treated them as family having several of them move-in for varying lengths of time. She would always cook huge family meals so there was enough for everyone and anyone else they may bring along. She had so much love to share and even blessed her family with a wonderful Thanksgiving style meal the night before she passed. Her last day with her family was truly a gift from God and was spent laughing, visiting and sharing great memories. She was an amazing Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Friend and will be greatly missed by all who loved her.Rhonda was survived in death by her husband, Bill Pedersen, Mother, Viola Homiston, Brother Mick (Gayle) Homiston, Brother Tim (Jean) Homiston, Son, Dustin Pedersen (Jamie), Daughter Brandi Means and Granddaughters, Tanner Pedersen and Falon Means, her loyal pekingese Pippin, her Aunt Gerri and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Rhonda was preceded in death by her beloved Father, Ernest Homiston, Grandfather Bert Patterson, Grandmother Myrtle Patterson, Honorary Grandson Trevor O'Brien and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be expressed at www.gillettememorialchapel.com