Don Arvid Pearson

Don Arvid Pearson of Soldotna, Alaska, passed away peacefully on June 1, 2017. Don was born on March 14, 1932 to Per Arvid Pearson and LoLita Lindstrom Pearson. He attended school in Mount Vernon, graduating from Mount Vernon High School in 1950. He joined the Navy in 1951 and was a ship’s photographer on the USS Kearsarge aircraft carrier. In 1953, he married Nina M. Hazleton and together they had 3 daughters. After getting out of the Navy, Don worked for Skagit Valley Telephone Co., and Contel. In 1977, he transferred to Alaska to work for Glacier State Telephone Co., that later became PTI. He retired after 35 years with the telephone companies. Don enjoyed many hunting and fishing trips in Washington and Alaska. Most important was his annual trip to the hunting camp outside of Twisp, WA, that he helped establish in 1948 with his future father-in-law DeWitte Hazleton and future brother-in-law Paul Koetje. Even while living in Alaska he was able to come back down to hunting camp for many years. In Alaska he also held several different positions with the Peninsula Oilers Baseball Board of Directors. Don and Nina housed many summer league baseball players over their 25 years with the organization. After retirement, they traveled to Arizona every March to watch their summer sons in Spring Training and to warm up from the Alaskan winters. Don is preceded in death by his parents Arvid and Lita Pearson, his brother and sister-in-law Bob and Bette Pearson, sister-in-law Darlene Pearson, his brother-in-law & sister-in-law Paul and Rita Koetje, and nephew Jay Koetje. He is survived by his wife of 64 years Nina, brother Darrell Pearson, daughters Donine Grigsby, Deanne Pearson (Chris Schrier), and Darcy Pearson-Craker (Dale Craker), and grandchildren Danielle Grigsby, Jacob Pokryfki, Nicholas Pokryfki, and Anders Pokryfki (fiance Angie Utchman), nephews Jeff Koetje (Michelle) and Rick Koetje along with their families, his honorary daughter Marian Fourno Vince (James Vince), honorary grandchildren Ashley, Thomas, and Richard Vince, as well as numerous Pearson cousins and extended family. A picnic in Don's honor will be held from 1 – 4 pm, July 29th, 2017, at Faberfarm, 16769 McLean Rd, Mount Vernon, Washington. In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite charity in his memory.