Alva Review-Courier -

Senator Roland and Terry Pederson were united in marriage on August 4, 1973, at the First United Methodist Church in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Terry, a native of Kildare and graduate of Ponca City High School, met Roland, a graduate of Burlington High School, at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva. Their first date was to the Woods County Fair where they shared their love for family, agriculture, and education.

Before they married, Roland began his teaching career at Carrier High School while Terry served as the 1972 Oklahoma Dairy Princess. Once married, they taught together at Kremlin-Hillsdale where Roland was the middle school principal before he taught at Chisholm High School as the school's first science teacher. During this time, Roland also served in the Air Force Reserves. Although they loved what they were doing, they had a passion for farming. In 1976, they moved to Burlington to take over the farm started by Roland's parents. Over the years, they raised primarily wheat and cattle, and Terry resumed teaching at Burlington Public Schools. In 2005, Roland and Terry were recognized as the 2005 Oklahoma Farm Bureau Family of the Year.

They are most proud of the family they raised including two children, Kristy (Archuleta) and Toni, later welcoming their son-in-law, Cory Archuleta, three grandchildren (Kyden, Nekoline, and Abilyn), and future son-in-law, Jose Jacquez. Still engaged in the farm business, they are the wheat harvest crew at Pederson Farms.

Servants at heart, Roland and Terry have spent their lives committed to not only their family, but also serving in their church and local and state communities. Roland served as a deacon and an elder of their church, was an active member of the Burlington Lions Club and was a board member for the Burlington Coop and the Alfalfa County Farm Bureau. He later served as a state board member and President of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. Terry has been active in the church women's committee, FFA Mother's Club, and as 4-H Youth Leader. She retired from teaching in 2016 when Roland was elected to the Oklahoma Senate. Most recently, she has served on the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee. When they are not serving others, working on the farm, or spending time with their family, you will find them traveling.

Their daughters invite you to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary at a come and go reception, Sunday, September 3, 2023, 2-4 p.m. at the Driftwood Christian Church, Highway 11, Cherokee, Oklahoma.