Laurie Barsdate

Laurie (Lovelace) Barsdate, 88, of Fergus Falls, died March 25th, in the company of family members and her "hospice family" at the Lakeland Hospice House, Anna Laurie Pearson was born April 29th 1921, in Hecla, SD to Sven Albert and Gladys Aurien (Cooper) Pearson. There she grew up on the family farm and went to school with her seven brothers and one sister. She married James Melvin (Mel) Lovelace, June 1, 1938, they moved to the west coast too work as welders in the shipyards during the war, returning to Breckenridge MN where Mel became an independent truck driver, moving to West Battle Lake in 1950. They had four children, daughters: Patricia Irene, Sharon Ladell, Laurie Jean (stillborn), and one son, James Albert. After Melvin's death in 1958, she moved to Williston ND, working as a waitress for the State Line Club, residing there until moving to Liberal, Kansas. She moved to Gainsville, Texas in 1966, managing the Curtwood Restaurant, then The River Valley Country Club for some years. She married George Barsdate in 1968, remained in Gainsville, TX until George's death in 1982. Laurie made her residence in Fergus Falls at the Riverbend Apartments, where she held the position of Social Director for 2 years. Laurie was an active member of the Seventh Day Adventist church. Her faith in God brought her through much hardship, grief and sorrow. Hobbies included planting flowers, gardening, fishing, crossword puzzles, compiling family history and photo albums. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family, hugging and kissing all the babies, planning dinners and parties, entertaining family and friends. Traveling in her motorhome, was another of her passions, going to Mexico, Alaska, Texas, Florida and Arizona in the winter, stopping to visit or help out family and friends along the way, always making new friends thru out her travels, she was an avid letter writer and continued to stay in touch with family and friends. Survivors include one daughter, Sharon (Harstad,Bishop) Solheim (Ron), 8 grandchildren: Kim (Harstad) Conrad, Battle Lake, Scott Harstad, Guy Harstad, both of Fergus Falls, Tammy (Jack) Doering, Battle Lake Laurie (Ronnie) Turchin. Fergus Falls, Matthew (Stephanie) Jacobson, Elbow Lake, Cindy (Wagner) Jacobson, Battle Lake, Chad Jacobson, Battle Lake,19 great grandchildren, 13 great, great grandchildren, 3 brothers: Rex Pearson, Wahpeton, Marvin(Betty) Pearson, Motley and Clayton(Pat) Pearson,IA, 3 brothers-in-law: Verlon(Vick) Lovelace, Bert Lovelace, Fergus Falls, Bob(Hack)Barsdate, Alaska, many nieces, nephews, family and friends. Laurie was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, daughters: Laurie Jean, and Pat (Jackobson) Helmbrecht, son,: Jimmy, a sister Nellie, four brothers: Omar, Calvin, Richard, and Hugo Pearson, one infant great granddaughter, one infant great-great grandson, sons-in-law; Larry Helmbrecht, Stan Bishop. In Lieu of Flowers, the family wishes memorials made to Lakeland Hospice House, Fergus Falls A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday April 17, 2010 at The Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Fergus Falls.