Leila "Jean" Pearson

LEILA JEAN PEARSON March 11, 1933 – July 1, 2016        Leila Jean Pearson, 83, of Foreston, MN went home to her Savior on July 1, 2016, at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis following a sudden and brief illness.        Jean was born on March 11, 1933, in Drywood, MN to Sverre and Josephine Jensen. She attended grade school in Correll in western Minnesota and graduated from Odessa High School in 1951. She then worked in Banks in Milan and Minneapolis, where she met her husband, J. Deane Pearson. They married in 1952 and, after Deane completed his teaching degree, they moved to Milaca in 1956 with their young daughter. A daughter, son, and three more daughters followed.        As a young woman, Jean made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. Following and honoring Him was the core of her life. Jean focused on caring for her children, and her example was influential in their decisions to follow Jesus Christ. She expressed her creativity as a seamstress, even winning the Pomona Grange sewing competition. She also enjoyed writing. The Billy Graham Association selected her to attend its writing conference, and she later studied writing for children.       As a grandmother to 27 and great grandmother to 17, Jean developed special relationships with all of them. She faithfully attended many sports and school events, birthdays, graduations, and weddings.        Jean and her husband loved to travel. Their adventures took them across the United States and many countries, such as England, Germany, Austria, Portugal, Scandinavia, Israel, Canada, and Thailand. They rode elephants in Thailand and visited Bethlehem on Christmas Eve.       Jean is survived by her six children: Pamela (Philip) Wong, Germantown, MD, Patricia (David) Berg, Milaca, Timothy Pearson, Park Rapids, Terra Swanson, Milaca, Mary (Joe) Gotta, Moorhead, and Melissa (David) Breyette, Algonquin, IL;  27 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; sister, Pearl Gabrielson, Milan; and many nephews, nieces, and friends.       Jean was preceded in death by her parents, beloved husband, son-in-law Dwight Swanson, two sisters: June and Dorothy, and a brother Ken.       Funeral services will be held 11AM Friday, July 8, 2016 at the First Baptist Church in Milaca with  Reverend Adrian Bolt and Reverend Peter Berg officiating.  The pianist will be Mary Kyle.  The Casketbearers will be grandsons: Andrew Wong, Noah Berg, Joshua Pearson, Jonah Pearson, Christopher Hanson, Jackson Gotta, Drew Gotta, David Breyette and Benjamin Breyette.  Interment will be made in the Pearson family plot located in the Borgholm Cemetery next to her husband, Deane.  Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 PM on Thursday at the First Baptist Church in Milaca with a prayer service to follow at 7. Visitation will continue starting one hour prior to the service on Friday.  Following the service all are invited for a luncheon hosted by the church.