Leo “Pete” Pederson, of Encampment, Wyoming, passed away on March 28, 2026, at the age of 77.

Pete was born on March 13, 1949 in Boulder, Colorado. He lived a quiet life that turned out to be a very big one. He was a proud Navy Seabee who served in Vietnam, and after his service he spent his life working hard, building, fixing, and doing things the right way. He worked as a rig welder and later as a well-known oil pipeline inspector, spending many years working away from home on pipelines and living the kind of rough, hardworking life he was built for. There wasn’t much he couldn’t build, repair, or figure out.

Pete loved the Wyoming life and the outdoors. He was a hunter, fisherman, horseman, camper, bird watcher, and ammo reloader. He built cannons, broke horses, and was always most at home outside, in the mountains, or working with his hands. He also shot trap competitively with his wife, Susan, something they enjoyed together for many years. Pete also had a musical side and could play the flute and was known for his “mouth trumpet.” He had a soft spot for cats, even if he didn’t always admit it.

Pete was a man who didn’t say a lot, but he didn’t need to. He showed his love by teaching, helping, fixing things, and being there when people needed him. He had a smile that didn’t come often, but when it did, it made you feel warm and safe. He was tough, capable, stubborn, and deeply loved by his family.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Susan Pederson; his daughter, Erica Brown; his sister, Virginia Wilcox; his granddaughters, Nika Ramquist and Taygan Bennett; and his great-grandson, Treyan Ramquist.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Victoria and George Pederson; his son, Gary Pederson; and his grandson, Treyan Brown.

Pete will be remembered for his strength, his skills, his stubbornness, his quiet way of living, and the life he built with his own two hands. Some people live quiet lives that turn out to be the biggest ones, and Pete was one of those people.