Pearl Evelyn (Pedersen) Swank passed away on January 9, 2024 in Poplar, MT. She was born on October 19, 1923 in Congor, MN near Albert Lea, MN to Danish immigrant parents Peder Marius and Inger (Paulsen) Pedersen. When Pearl was 5 years old, the family moved to a rented farm north of Circle, MT where she went to country schools. The family moved to Malta after she finished the 7th grade. Pearl graduated from Malta High School in 1941. She graduated in 1945 from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. She taught in Culbertson, Nashua, Fairview and Poplar High Schools. She married Eugene Swank of North Poplar in 1952, where they raised their 4 children. She was an active leader for decades in the Up-‘N-Atom 4-H club teaching girls to sew, using her Home Economics teaching skills. She sewed all her own dresses, always had a big garden and many people appreciated “Pearl’s potatoes”. She took up quilting after her kids graduated from high school cutting blocks and sewing quilts for babies and old folks and put together thousands of quilt tops that when finished were donated to Denver Children’s Hospital, Daniels County Nursing Home and other charities. The star quilts she made were all quilted by her hand and she gave several neighbor kids quilts when they graduated high school. Pearl was a member of Zion Lutheran Church (north Brockton) and attended Pleasant Prairie Lutheran Church (Flaxville). Pearl had a wonderful 100th birthday celebration with friends and family, continued sewing until the last 2 months, and resided on the family farm until her death.
Pearl is survived by her children Donna Swank Rudiger, Mark Swank, Lyle (Cheryl) Swank (Idaho Falls, ID) and Lois (Greg) Weber; grandsons Warren (Laurel) and Mason Weber (Silver Spring, MD); step-granddaughters Ashley (Kyle) Perry (Meridian, ID) and Kelsey Hagerty (Idaho Falls, ID), step-great-granddaughters Azlynn & Loxley Perry; and great-granddaughter Kai Weber.
She was preceded in death by her parents and 4 siblings and their spouses: Chris (Norma), Emil (Luisa), Rosa (Ted) Seppala & Paul (Maxine) and her husband, Eugene.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Montana 4-H Foundation, PO Box 173580, Bozeman, MT 59717; Concordia College, 901 8th St. S., Morehead, MN 56562 or a charity of your choice. Pearl was aptly named as she was a real gem.
A private family burial will take place at Zion Lutheran Church at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 20, 2024, North of Brockton, Montana. A memorial service will follow at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 20 , 2024 at the Pleasant Prairie Lutheran Church (mile marker 32 on Hwy 251, County Line Rd).
Condolences for the family may be left using the form below.