George Fredrick Pearson

George Fredrick Pearson, 80, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, October 18, 2013 at Frazee Care Center, surrounded by his loving family. George was born on April 1, 1933 to John and Katherine(Gaab) Pearson in Moorhead, Minnesota. He grew up in Moorhead and graduated from Moorhead High School in 1951. George received a Bachelor of Science Degree of Education in Industrial Arts, Math and Science at Moorhead State Teacher's College, Moorhead, Minnesota. He met the love of his life, Edna Mae Olson, while at college and they were married in Hawley, Minnesota on June 16, 1955. George continued his education to obtain a Master's Degree of Education at Moorhead State Teacher's College. He received additional schooling from South Dakota State University, Vermillion, South Dakota; School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota and a Geology Study through Ohio State University at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah. George was also a member of the Naval Reserve for eight years during his early college days. George began his teaching career in Clearbrook, Minnesota, teaching Industrial Arts for three years. He then moved on to the Detroit Lakes Junior High School, where he taught Math and Science for thirty-one years. Along with his teaching, he was an extremely skilled wood craftsman and carpenter. George has been an active member of First Lutheran Church in Detroit Lakes for fifty-four years. He was a council member, council president and enjoyed teaching Sunday School for several years. In the community he enjoyed coaching hockey at several levels for more than ten years, was an active 4-H leader and he offered a helping hand to anyone in need. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, camping, model airplane flying, woodworking, hockey and football, but most of all he looked forward to spending time with his family and friends. George is survived by his wife of fifty-eight years, Edna Mae (Olson) Pearson of Detroit Lakes, MN; son, Tim (Kathi) Pearson of Vadnais Heights, MN; daughter, Diana Pearson of Detroit Lakes, MN; son, John Pearson and friend, Julie of Frazee, MN; grandchildren, Kallie Pearson of St. Paul, MN; Emma Pearson of Vadnais Heights, MN; Alicia Kopec of Detroit Lakes, MN and Ariana Kopec of Detroit Lakes, MN; sister, Virginia (Noel) Sutherland of Eureka, CA; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Robert and Helen Olson; sister-in-law, Marlene Munig of Virginia, MN; several nieces and nephews. George was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, sisters, Lillian Bryant, Carol, Edna and brother, Ralph, brothers-in-law, Bill Bryant and George Munig, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Thorval and Alice Olson, daughter-in-law, Julie Pearson.