Pearl Wilson
Pearl Wilson, age 92 of Staples, passed away at her home, surrounded
by her family on Thursday, January 13, 2022. Pearl was born in Troy
Mills, Iowa, on August 1, 1929, to Harry and Anna (Reece) Siers.
Pearl was the fifth of 12 children born to Harry and Anna. Although
she was born in Iowa, she spent almost her entire life in Wadena
County. She married Charles (Bud) Wilson on December 9, 1948. They
built their family dairy farm in the county and raised their three
children. She worked side-by-side with her husband on the farm they
ran along with their son, Darrell, until her husband’s death in 1981.
Besides the farm, Pearl also kept a large vegetable garden. It is a
wonder that she found time for all the sewing and canning she did!
After selling the farm to her son, Pearl fulfilled her life-long dream
to return to school. She earned her GED and then a degree in
accounting from Wadena Technical College. It was only after this that
she had some free time and was able to travel with friends. She went
on trips throughout the US, visiting both coasts. She had a very
memorable trip to Australia and New Zealand that started on the same
day that her youngest grandchild was born so she didn’t receive the
news of his birth until well into her journey.
She worked for Lakewood Health System as a Home Health Aide for a
number of years. Many of her clients were often younger than she was.
This was the work she performed up until her retirement.
After finally retiring in her 70s, she could be found tending her
flowers, both indoors and outside, and enjoying the many birds that
visited her feeders. Pearl spent countless hours crocheting and sewing
and left many gifts for her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and
great-great grandchildren.
She remained very active with her house and garden until only very
recently when all the heavy and hard work of her life finally just
wore her out. Thankfully, she was able to remain in her own home, with
the help of her extended family, until her death.
Left to cherish her memory are her children Darrell (Pat) Wilson,
Diane (Bruce) Jackson, and Lori (Allen) Gradous; siblings Norma Odden,
Ruth Stiller, Evelyn Balsiger, and Dale Siers, grandchildren Bonnie
Dahlvang, Steven Dahlvang, Niki Mollner, Jennifer (James) Middendorf,
Kimberly Wilson, and Joel Gradous; 26 great-grandchildren; 8
great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Pearl was preceded in death by her parents, husband Charles (Bud), six
of her siblings, her great-granddaughter Elizabeth Kern,
great-grandson Gideon Kern, grandson in law Joseph Mollner, and
Honorary granddaughter in law Lianna Wolpert.
The funeral service for Pearl will be held on Friday, January 21, 2022
at 11:00 am. at Thomastown Covenant Church. Visitation will be one
hour prior to the service and Thursday evening from 4-7 pm at the
church. Burial will be at West Lyons Cemetery.
