Obituary - Pearl Lillian Larson

Pearl Lillian Larson, 98, a long-time resident of Havre, passed away Nov. 19, 2015, at her home.

Pearl was born on Jan. 6, 1917, to Albert B. and Gertrude (Olmein) Jensen, joining her older brother, Philip, and sister, Edith, on the family farm north of Powers Lake, North Dakota. She attended a one-room country school where she had the same teacher for first through eighth grade, graduating from high school in 1935. After spending a year doing housework and babysitting to save money, she and her sister Edith enrolled at Sacred Heart Nursing School in Havre. They graduated in 1939 after three years of training.

In April 1943, Pearl married Hjalmer Larson in Havre. Shortly after they were married, Hjalmer enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was sent overseas. Pearl then moved to John Day, Oregon, to live with her sister Edith. Their first child, Joyce, was born there in January 1944. Hjalmer returned after flying 25 missions over Europe, and the family moved to Galveston, Texas, where Hugh was born in January 1945. Once Hjalmer was discharged from the Army Air Corps in August 1945, the family returned to Havre, where Douglas was born in August 1947. Their daughter Lois was born in March 1954.

In Havre, Hjalmer leased and operated Larson's Texaco Station. Pearl stayed busy as a homemaker, supporting the children in all their activities. When Lois started school in the fall of 1962, Pearl decided to return to nursing. She enrolled in a refresher course and started work at Deaconess Hospital as a general duty nurse. She had a full career in nursing, working as a surgical supervisor and ultimately serving as the director of nursing for the hospital. She retired in 1982 from her position as a review coordinator.

Pearl took full advantage of - and thoroughly enjoyed - her retirement. She loved to travel and was able to visit the Scandinavian countries as well as much of California, Arizona and Montana, supporting her grandchildren and great-grandchildren at their sporting events and activities along the way. A nature lover, she was rarely seen without her binoculars, pointing out osprey nests, naming the birds in the sky and the flowers on the ground, passing her love for the outdoors along to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She learned to golf, volunteered at the hospital and quilted at the senior center and church. After discovering that golf didn't improve with age and arthritis, she took up bridge and always looked forward to her weekly games with good friends. She became a master of crossword puzzles and champion of the Scrabble game. Whether at the kitchen table or on Facebook, she was a force to be reckoned with.

Pearl had a love of life. She will be remembered for her positivity and optimism. Her strength as a breast cancer survivor, as well as her professionalism and compassion as a nurse, made her who she was. She had a great love for her family and for family reunions, especially the yearly gathering at Camp Tuffit on Lake Mary Ronan. Her lefse, rosettes and sandbakkels were a long-time staple of holiday gatherings.

Pearl is preceded in death by her husband, Hjalmer; her parents, Albert and Gertrude Jensen; her brothers, Philip and Ralph; and her sisters, Edith Round, Lenora Walp and Dorothy Shull.

She is survived by her children Joyce (Colin) Wolke of Plano, Texas, Hugh (Rogene Halver) Larson of Shelby, Doug (Lorraine) Larson of Havre and Lois (Jerry) Styck of Kalispell; her grandchildren, Shari Richter, Scott Larson, Teresa Wolke, Jolene Kendall, Brian Styck, Erika Berryman and Mark Larson; as well as 15 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and her good friend and sister-in-law Esme' Jensen.

A memorial service to honor Pearl's life will be held on June 15, 2016, at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church of Havre with a reception to follow.

Memorial donations may be made to KOJM Radio's broadcast of Sunday Worship Service in care of First Lutheran Church, PO Box 66, Havre, MT 59501, or to a charity of your choice.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.

Please visit Pearl's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for her family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.