Watch Pearson's Graveside Service and Military Honors

Sybil May (Schlicht) Pearson, age 94, of Mahnomen, MN, died peacefully at the Mahnomen Health Center Nursing Home on Friday, January 17, 2020, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Sybil was born September 6, 1925, at Vergas, MN, to Loretta and Harry Schlicht.  She attended country school at Lake Sybil and graduated from Detroit Lakes High School in June of 1943.  Sybil attended one semester at Hamline College in St. Paul, MN.  Then she entered the 3-year diploma school of nursing at St. Gabriel's School of Nursing in Little Falls, MN, in September of 1944 and graduated under the U.S. Cadet Corp Program in June of 1947.  Sybil was employed at the St. Gabriel Hospital in Pediatrics and Obstetrics and later for six months in Sacred Heart Hospital at Portland, OR.  She was then accepted a six month post graduate course in Obstetrics at the Chicago Lying In Hospital at the University of Chicago, IL.  She worked as charge nurse and taught the course in Obstetrics to student nurses at the Methodist Hospital in Mitchell, SD.

In April 1951, Sybil entered the US Naval Nurse Corp as an Ensign and was assigned to Bremerton, WA. Other duty assignments were at Bainbridge, MD, Naval Air Base Coco Solo, Panama, US Naval Hospital Mare Island, Vallejo, CA, and US Naval Air Base Kodiak Island, AK.  Sybil was discharged as a full lieutenant from the US Naval Hospital, Great Lakes, IL on June 20, 1957 and served as a reserve until November of 1959.

Sybil was united in marriage to Roger Pearson at the Vergas Methodist Church on June 29, 1957.  They made their home in Mahnomen where Roger owned the Coast to Coast Store and she was a registered nurse at the hospital.  Together they raised one daughter, Nancy.

Her nursing career spanned 38 years.  Sybil worked part time at St. Mary's Hospital in Detroit Lakes, MN, until the Mahnomen County and Village Hospital opened in 1959 where she took care of patients until she retired in June of 1985.

Sybil was active in the community.  She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star Moccasin Flower Chapter #257 where she was Worthy Matron four times, treasurer, and secretary at Mahnomen for 12 years and later Chaplain at Detroit Lakes Olive Branch.  She was a member of the Vergas Methodist Church and later UCC in Waubun where she served as past president, treasurer and devotional leader in the Women's Fellowship.  She belonged to two bridge clubs, the Mahnomen Library Club and was a member of the VFW Post #1676 in Detroit Lakes.

Sybil was a proud 1985 founding member of The Women in Military Service for America Memorial located at the Arlington National Cemetery.  You can find her in the Memorial's Register, an interactive computer database at the Memorial.

Her love was growing beautiful flowers in her garden and window boxes which she started from seedlings and were planted for everyone to enjoy as they drove by the house.

During Christmas, Sybil thoughtfully baked lots of gingerbread boys and girls cookies to give to many children and adults.  Sometimes as many as 54 dozen!

Fishing for walleyes at Bass Lake was her favorite past time.  Her biggest catch was a 12 lb.5 oz walleye.  She had a great love for dogs and adored her family pets.  The dogs went in the fishing boat too.

Sybil enjoyed visiting other countries.  She and her daughter Nancy, flew to England, Scotland, and Wales twice and visited Italy, France and other European countries.  With Roger, she traveled to Alaska, Hawaii, Tahiti, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Mexico and couldn't wait to go north to Canada for fishing trips.

Sybil is survived by her daughter, Nancy of Kent, OH; brother, Curtis Schlicht of Mahnomen, MN; grandchildren, Lucas Porcelli and Amanda Porcelli; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Loretta Schlicht; husband, Roger; two brothers, Frederick and Melvin Schlicht; and one sister, Margaret Kahle.

In lieu of gifts, memorials are requested for Circles of Faith United Church of Christ, Mahnomen Historical Society or Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Funeral Services will take place at Circles of Faith, United Church of Christ in Waubun, MN, at 11 am on Thursday, January 23, 2020. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Lake Sybil Cemetery, Vergas, MN, at a later date.

In lieu of gifts, memorials are preferred for Circles of Faith United Church of Christ, Mahnomen Historical Society or Hospice of the Red River Valley.