Bette Pearson

With family at her side, Bette Pearson, 87, of Poplar, WI died on Saturday, July 4, 2015 and entered her heavenly home she so deeply believed in with Jesus as her companion.

Bette was born in Cloverland, WI on January 17, 1928. As a child, she loved taking care of animals, working on the family farm with her dad, and spending time with her siblings. Bette attended King School in Cloverland and enjoyed reunions with her classmates for many years.

In 1947, Bette married Dean Pearson. They were wed for 59 years. Bette and Dean proudly raised seven children and worked closely together to build Chickbee Poultry Farm and a cattle ranch. As a farmer, Bette enjoyed candling eggs, working with cattle, and driving tractor. She could drive any piece of farm equipment including backing up a goose-neck trailer into the tightest spaces in one try! In addition, Bette served faithfully at Mission Covenant Church for many years as the chair of the funeral committee, the nursery worker lovingly known as “Gramma Bette”, by hosting women’s Bible study, and by driving campers to and from Covenant Park Bible Camp. She served the wider community as a food shelf committee member.

Bette was known for her chocolate cake, homemade bread and cinnamon bread, playing the piano, laughing with her siblings, deeply loving her family, being a hard worker, caring for children, enjoying eating lobster, traveling with Deb and Denise, writing poems for special family occasions, and hosting large family gatherings at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Among those who survive Bette and deeply miss her are her children: Steve (Bonnie) Pearson, Sandy (Conrad) Johnson, Scott (Kim) Pearson, Terry (Mari) Pearson, Vickie (Kent) Mikkelson, Deb (Denise Moreland) Pearson and Vonda Pearson; plus 19 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren, a brother-in-law Earl (Virginia) Pearson, and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Dean, two infant children, Jeffery Paul and Angela Ann, two infant great-grandchildren, Dallas Isaac Pearson and Kassidy Marie Paulsen, her parents Ernest and Helen Gustafson, her brothers, Paul and Henry Gustafson, and her sisters, Astrid King and Martha Sarazin.
The family extends special thanks to the staff at St. Mary’s Hospital for their expertise and compassion in caring for Bette and to cousin Sharon Sarazin for her love and support during Bette’s hospitalization.

Visitation will begin at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 at Mission Covenant Church, 5161 S County Rd, Poplar, WI and continue until the 12 noon funeral service.

Pallbearers will be Mark Liebaert, Sylvester Hursh, Bob Coleman, Virgil Nelson, Brian Johnson and Tom Peterson. Honorary pallbearer is Bette’s oldest great-grandson Deven Burkhart.

The Downs-LeSage Funeral Home, 1304 Hammond Avenue, Superior is assisting the family with arrangements. To leave an online condolence or to sign the guestbook, please visit www.downs-lesage.com.