Dorothy Mae Pearson, 98, died Saturday, March 14, 2026, at her home in Golden Valley, MN. 

Dorothy was born May 4, 1927 in Turlock, California to Rev. Arvid C. and Esther Carlson, shortly after their return from China where they met, were married, and served as Covenant missionaries.

She grew up in a number of small midwestern towns where her father served as pastor in the local Covenant churches, including Kensington and Warren Minnesota and Essex Iowa. After high school graduation in 1945, she attended nurse’s training at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago and earned her certification as a Registered Nurse.  While nursing at that hospital, she cared for a young seminarian from Albert City, Iowa, Donald J. Pearson who was having his appendix removed. They met, fell in love, and were married on June 14, 1950.  They were blessed with three children, David, Cindy and Joan. Their relationship then extended for nearly 62 years until Donald’s death in 2012.

After his ordination, Rev. Donald J. Pearson served congregations in Cuyahoga Falls, OH, Portland, OR, Sioux City, IA, and Fairfield, OH.  Dorothy was extremely active in each of those ministries, serving as a pianist, Sunday School teacher, frequent host to both church members and international students, and active community member, while serving as an active parent and working as a part time nurse in various hospitals and institutions,  In 1985 they moved to San Diego, CA where he served as Chaplain at Mount Miguel Covenant Village, and Dorothy served as a member of the nursing team.  They retired in 1993 and moved to Covenant Living of Golden Valley in 2001 where she lived until her death.

In addition to her active involvement in her church communities, Dorothy loved animals, was an avid reader, and truly had a gift of hospitality, generously welcoming people into both her own home and into her retirement community. She was filled with gratitude for her parents and family, many wonderful friends, mostly good health, and an active relationship with God since a young age.

She is survived by her three sisters, Elvira Englund (Turlock, CA), Ruth Dahlgren (Minneapolis, MN) and Judy Solie (Golden Valley, MN), and by her children David (Jan) Erickson-Pearson, Cindy (Tim) Hawkinson, and Joan (Jay Schmitt), and five grandchildren, Stephen, Kristin, Kaia, Annika and Noah.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, March 26 at 2:00 pm, in the Fellowship Center at Covenant Living of Golden Valley.  Memorial gifts may be made to the Benefit Fund at Covenant Living of Golden Valley.