Pearl Shol

On Sunday, August 26, 2012, at home surrounded by her children, our beloved mother, Pearl Gladys Shol, went to be with Jesus. She had been under the loving care of her daughters, Faye and Audrey, and Lakeland Hospice. She was 98 years old. She was born on a farm near Anamoose, North Dakota on November 20, 1913, one of seven children of Peter and Gurena (Sundlie) Bergan. She attended country school in Mercer, ND, and was confirmed in the Lutheran Church there. As a young girl she developed her hard work ethic. Her first job, she hired on to care for neighbors children – which grew into taking care of the house, cooking, gardening, canning, and even shearing sheep. When she was 17 she moved to Fergus Falls to live with her half-sister and find employment. Her first job in Fergus was as a summer nanny for the Victor Lundeen family. She worked briefly at the Five and Dime store. She met and married Walt Shol and became a loving mother to his three children, Bob, Bette, and Elayne. Their family grew with the addition of Audrey, Pat, Faye and Gene. Her children remember her as always being a working mom. She worked at the Desoto Creamery. Pearl and Walt owned and operated Walt’s Café on Lincoln Avenue during WWII. In 1946 they moved out of town to own and operate Walt’s Repair. At that time they also rented and helped run WeeTown Tavern. As busy as she was, Pearl still found time to supplement their income with various jobs at the Normandy Café, The Lantern, Broadway Neighborhood Grocery, and she was also an Artex dealer for some time. Pearl volunteered for various organizations, including the DAC store, and at the hospital. She was active in her church, Stavanger Lutheran Church, serving on several boards. She was always willing to help, chauffeuring, making meals, babysitting, and helping her in-laws in their later years. Walt passed away in 1990. The following year Pearl moved to the Riverbend Apartments where she continued on in her caregiving ways. She was the key-keeper of the building on weekends, reluctantly turning in her keys at age 95. In the fall of 2011, Pearl moved in with her daughter, Faye, because of failing health. Preceding her in death were her parents, Peter and Gurena Bergan; her husband, Walt; a son, Robert and his wife Doris; two daughters, Bette Zins, and Elayne Carlson and her husband Dalvin; sons-in-law Gus Stach, Jerry Baylor, and George Zins; brothers Terrance, Kenneth and Alvin, sister, May Singer, and half-sister Ruth Sundberg and their spouses; brothers-in-law, Steve Magdich, Cliff, Russ, and Floyd Shol; sisters-in-law Myrtle Bauman, Ruby Bachmeier, Lillian Staff, Mae Anderson and their spouses; a granddaughter, Sherri Zin; and a grandson, Zack Ringquist. Pearl is survived by her sister, Irene Vennie of Little Falls; children: Audrey Stach, Faye Baylor, Gene and Ruth Shol, all of Fergus Falls, and Pat Gapen of Roseville; sisters-in-law Hazel Magdich and Vivian Shol, both of Fergus Falls, and Francis Bergan of Florida; brother-in-law, Ben Bachmeier of Fergus Falls; 25 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren; 36 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. We will miss her homemade bread and jam, homemade peanut brittle, and all the goodies only she could make. We will remember her gentleness, her sense of humor, her love of God, her hospitality, and her selflessness. Blessed be the memory of Pearl Gladys Shol. Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church Memorial Service: 10 a.m. Friday, August 31, 2012, at Stavanger Lutheran Church, rural Fergus Falls Clergy: Reverend Troy Tysdal Interment: Stavanger Lutheran Cemetery, rural Fergus Falls Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls is in charge of the arrangements.