Pearl Christine Pederson Bear

September 2, 1917 – June 21, 2022

Pearl Christine (Pederson) Bear, 104, passed away Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at the Lake Mills Care Center. Visitation for Pearl will be held Friday, July 1, from 5-7 p.m. at Schott Funeral Homes-Mittelstadt Chapel, Lake Mills.  Viewing will also be from 9:30 a.m. until service time at Bethany Lutheran Church on Saturday. Funeral service will be Saturday, July 2, at 10:30 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church,  Thompson, with Pastor Rod Hopp officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Thompson.
Pearl Christine (Pederson) Bear was born Sept. 2, 1917, on a farm east of Rake in Winnebago County. Her parents were Karsten (Carson) and Marie Bolstad Pederson. Pearl was the second oldest of six children. Her siblings were Nella, Lillian, Madeline, Mae, and Raymond.
Pearl was baptized Oct. 7, 1917, at Lincoln Lutheran Church, Rake, and affirmed her faith by confirmation in 1932, at Zion Lutheran Church, Rake. She attended rural school near Rake through the eighth grade and graduated from Rake High School in 1934.
As a child, she enjoyed playing both the violin and piano. After high school, Pearl attended Waldorf College, Forest City, where she was awarded a two-year teaching degree.  After graduation, she taught at several rural schools until her marriage in 1940 to Lawrence Hubert Bear of rural Thompson.
Pearl and Hubert farmed a small acreage north of Thompson and raised three sons: Keith, Kenneth, and Bruce.
In 1975, Hubert passed away unexpectedly. Pearl continued to live on the farmstead until 1983, when she moved to a house in Thompson.
In 2005, Pearl moved to Forest Plaza, an assisted living facility in Forest City. As Pearl’s health began to fail, Pearl was moved to the Lake Mills Care Center, Lake Mills, in 2009. Pearl has resided there until her recent passing.
Pearl was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church, Thompson, and an active member of various church Circles. She also participated in local birthday clubs and the Golden Age Club. After Hubert’s passing, Pearl traveled extensively with her sisters throughout the country and to Canada. Her trips included bus tours of the Northeast, Pacific Northwest, Alaska, California, and Arizona. She also kept busy with many hobbies including gardening, quilting, and playing piano.
Her grandchildren adored her and loved to spend time with her. Pearl’s family and friends celebrated her 100th birthday with her at the Lake Mills Care Center on Labor Day 2017.  In September of 2021, Pearl was the front-page featured article in the Lake Mills Graphic newspaper. She and her family celebrated her 104th birthday.
Survivors include: her son, Kenneth, and wife, Sandra, Monterey, Calif.; son, Bruce, and wife, Dee, White Bear Lake, Minn.; and daughter-in-law, Raejean, Ankeny; sister, Mae Hove, Wells, Minn.; eight grandchildren: Renee Bear, Kristin Bear, Michelle Van Der Heyden, Michael Bear, Todd Bear, Matthew Bear, Amy Smith, and Alicia Grund; nine great-grandchildren: Jessica Van Der Heyden, Michael Van Der Heyden, Luke Bear, Jacob Bear, Mark Bear, Tristan Smith, Stella Smith, Miles Grund, and Owen Grund; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Pearl was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and her oldest son, Keith L. Bear, who passed away March 2, 2009.

Lake Mills Graphic

204 N. Mill Street
Lake Mills, IA 50450

Office Number: (641) 592-4222
Fax Number: (641) 592-6397

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