A celebration of life for our head coach Butch Pedersen will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2023 at 1:00pm at the West Branch High School Gymnasium. Those attending the service are encouraged to dress in West Branch Bears gear or colors.

In lieu of flowers, the Pedersen family suggests memorials to be made in Butch's name to be used for future scholarships.

Coach Pedersen peacefully passed away Monday, April 3rd, after a battle with myelodysplatic syndrome, a form of blood cancer, which he was diagnosed with in October last year. His death comes five days after he and his family made the decision to enter hospice care. Those five days were filled with memorable time with family and support from the West Branch community.