Bernard Joel Pearson

Funeral services for Bernard Joel Pearson will be held 2:00 PM Thursday, July 2, 2009 at the Evangelical Free Church in Milaca with Rev. Dan Clausen and Rev Tom Sahlstrom officiating. Friends may call from 5 to 7 PM on Wednesday at the Peterson Johnson Funeral Home in Milaca. Interment will be in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Milaca. Bernard Pearson was born Dec. 20, 1916 at the Greendale Farm in rural Foreston. He attended grade school at Lincoln District 23 and graduated from Milaca High School in 1933. In 1939 he purchased the Greendale Farm from his parents Einar and Lina. He was united in marriage to Florence Mundy on Aug. 16, 1940. They developed a fine herd of registered Holsteins that became known throughout the state. In 1960 the herd was dispersed, after which he was employed at The First National Bank of Milaca as their agricultural representative. He later served as vice president and on the board of directors. They sold Greendale Farm in 1987 and built a home on Big Eddy Acres. In September of 2007 they moved to Country Meadows in Milaca. Bernard served on various community and state boards; District 8 School, Foreston Creamery, local and state FHA, and along with his wife, Florence, was a 4-H leader for five years. He was an active member of the Milaca Evangelical Free Church where he served on many boards, committees and was a long-standing Sunday School teacher. He was a lay minister, Bible teacher, speaker, humorist and writer. He wrote many articles, snippets and poems for various magazines, newspapers and special events. After his retirement he published two books, “Einar and Lina” and “The Fifth Kid.” Bernard had a reputation as a gifted “story” teller with a great sense of humor. He leaves behind a wonderful Christian legacy and example for his family, friends and acquaintances. He is survived by his wife of almost 69 years Florence; son Delbert (Donna) of Milaca; daughter Louella (Gordon) Olson of Eden Prairie; grandson Bryan (Shelley); great-grandsons Tyler and Zachery; sister Eleanor Mulvihill of Devils Lake, S.D.; and brother Paul of San Jose, Calif. Bernard was preceded in death by his parents Einar and Lina; brothers, Axel, Werner, David and Nils; and sister Ruth Mulvihill.