Gayle Bednar

Gayle Bednar, 89, of Pequot Lakes, passed away on April 1, 2026.

Gayle Bernice Bednar, age 89, of Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, passed away Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at Centra Care hospital in St. Cloud, Minesota.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Pequot Lakes Baptist Church in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, with visitation one hour prior to the service.

Gayle was born on January 8, 1937, in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Edward and Bernice Kraushar (Jorgenson).

Gayle is survived by her children Michael Peterson, Linda Steward, Doug Peterson, Colleen Peterson, Patty Davis (Neil Peterson), Joe Anderson (Laura) and Rob Anderson (Shanna Mae Olsen); nephew Steve Kraushar; several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Gayle was proceeded in death by her parents Edward and Bernice; sister Shirley; husbands, Maurice Peterson, Earl “Bud” Anderson, Ernest Bednar; and her son Daniel Peterson.

She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend; always reaching out and participating in their lives as best she could. She never missed special occasions and wanted to be involved because her faith, family, and friends were what her life was centered around.

Gayle grew up in the St. Paul area, attended Hancock Elementary and then Wilson High School. She was a tomboy at heart. Her father was a boxer and raised his daughter to be tough, but God kept her heart soft for others. After meeting Maurice in the Marigold Ballroom and marrying him, she had her first six children in the next nine years. Later she met, then married Earl and had her last two children. She tirelessly worked many jobs and made time to attend all events that she could and her love for others was handed down by her acceptance of everyone.

In 1983, she moved to Pequot Lakes with Earl and the last two children and owned a cleaning business and later became a CNA, caring for people in their homes. She was also an active member of the Pequot Lakes Baptist Church. Upon retirement and being widowed, she met, then married Ernest and enjoyed traveling in the early years of their marriage and volunteered to drive for meals on wheels. When she could no longer drive a vehicle, she poured into people’s lives a different way. The phrase “how is everyone doing at church” was a staple upon every visit she would get and if she was told of someone that had a struggle, she would lovingly send out a card or call that person to see how she could encourage or help. In her last years, when her body was failing and it was getting hard for her, she was still more concerned to know each doctor, nurse, optometrist, receptionist…. anyone whom she encountered. She made people feel loved, because she truly loved them.