Martha M. (Berg) Pearson

Martha M. Pearson, age 99, of Spring Valley, MN went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Sunday, April 26, 2020 at Wildwood Grove Assisted Living & Memory Care in LeRoy.

Martha Marie (Berg) was born on May 6, 1920 to Kasper and Sanna (Ness) Berg. Martha was the second oldest child of a total of nine. She grew up pretty quickly as she had to learn to help with the little ones that were coming along. Martha and her older brother started school at the same time and began to learn the English language, along with the numbers and other lessons that come with school. They introduced the family to the new language and soon all were going to school. As Martha grew, she became a valuable helper. She washed clothes, helped with meals, and worked in the garden and the field. Her education stopped when she was needed to help her elderly grandparents. She would do the laundry, bake bread, mend clothing, and clean the house.

As the children grew up, they looked for a way to find their own way, as they usually do. Martha and her younger sister got a ride with an aunt and uncle to California. The war was starting and jobs were plenty. Martha and a cousin were hired as electricians to work on the big ships. That’s where some exciting things happened. Martha met a young man who was working on the machinery inside the ships and they began spending time together. Lloyd was a hard worker and they married that spring of 1943. A surprise came later that fall when a new baby arrived and Lloyd received his draft notice. It was hard for Martha to decide what to do while he was in the Army, so she packed up everything and moved to Iowa where Lloyd’s parents lived.

It wasn’t long before a telegram reached Martha letting her know that her husband had been seriously injured. She boarded a bus and when she got to the hospital they showed her to his room. Martha couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Lloyd was housed in four different hospitals while he was recuperating. Two years later he was discharged and sent home. They moved to Minnesota, bought a small farm and raised a family there.

Martha is survived by her children Sonja Swankier of Spring Valley, Ralph (Norma) Pearson of Missoula, MT, and Stanley Pearson of Brunswick, GA, daughter-in-law Jenelle Pearson of Spring Valley, sisters Ester Washburn of Oregon, and Helen (Richard) Anderson of Hill City, MN, 11 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Lloyd on December 2, 2007, son Carl Pearson, son-in-law David Swankier, daughter-in-law Gail Pearson, great-grandson Joshua, and 6 siblings.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions a private family graveside service will be held on Monday, May 4, 2020 with Pastor Joe Haynes officiating. Burial will take place in Spring Valley Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Croix Hospice at 3800 Highway 52 North, Suite 200, Rochester, MN 55901.

Online condolences may be left at Hindtfuneralhomes.com

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.