Nels Pearson

Nels Pearson, 98 of Billings passed away on December 20, 2006 at the Horizon Hospice Home in Billings, following a short illness.

Nels was born on April 2, 1908, in Hibbing, Minnesota, the son of Mathilda and Nels Pearson. He was preceded in death by his wife Digny; and two sisters, Ella Mandelin and Anna Dougherty.

Nels married Digny Erickson on May 7, 1937, in Hibbing. They lived in Chicago, IL briefly, moved to Great Falls in 1939, and then to Billings in 1940. He drove bus for Greyhound Lines for 39 years, retiring in 1973.

Nels had a lifelong love of the outdoors. Often when he was driving the bus, he would stop and point out deer, antelope or other wildlife to his appreciative passengers. He spent many years hunting and fishing, beginning as a young boy and continuing up to his 95^th year.

Nels made many hunting knives for people scattered throughout the western United States, as well as Ohio, Minnesota, and Texas. In addition he made hundreds of bluebird houses, most of which he put up in the Bull Mountains. A 2002 article in the Billings Gazette referred to Nels as "the birdhouse man."

Nels is survived by one daughter, Nelsene (Jon) McGinn of Underwood, MN; one sister, Martha Mannes of Hibbing, MN; two grandchildren, Alison (Roger) Romeo of Bowerston, Ohio and Adrienne (John) Hawkinson of Fridley, MN; ten great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews; and many, many friends. He will be greatly missed.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M., on Friday, December 29, 2006 at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary. Interment will follow at Terrace Gardens Cemetery. The casket will be closed.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to Big Sky Hospice, P.O. Box 35033, Billings, MT 59107-5033.