Delbert "Del" C. Pearson

Celebration of life service for Delbert C. "Del" Pearson will be held on Friday, March 24, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Reverend Dr. Cathi Braasch, STS officiating.  A private family inurnment will be held prior to the service at the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege with military honors provided by the Martin-Horn American Legion Post #66 in conjunction with the United States Army Funeral Honors Team.

Delbert Carl "Del" Pearson, 96 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Sunday, March 19, 2017 at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege.  Del was born October 9, 1920 on a farm eight miles southeast of Holdrege. This farm was homesteaded by his grandfather, Andrew Pearson in the late 1800s. Del was the younger of two sons born to Carl W. and Mae (Bischel) Pearson. He attended South Sacramento School through 8 ^th Grade. Del rode his pony two and a half miles to school, which had a stable for eight horses. The family later moved to Holdrege, where he graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1938.

During two years of high school, Del was employed as a doorman at the Sun Theatre. After graduation, Del worked as a soda jerk and soda fountain manager for Kunkel Drug and continued until 1940, when he entered the Army. He was with the Holdrege National Guard, Company A, 110 ^th Quartermaster Regiment, 35 ^th Infantry Division. Del served two and a half years as an instructor in Army basic training in posts throughout the U.S. He attended Officer Candidate School in 1943 and was assigned to a company, which served on Saipan in the South Pacific. Del was Company Commander and attained the rank of Captain. After he was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1945, Del returned home to Holdrege, where he began a lifetime career in real estate.

On February 14, 1942, Del married Catherine Gallagher in San Luis Obispo, California. The couple made their home in Holdrege, where they raised their three children: Pam, Brad and Cass. He was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine in 1989.

Del owned and operated Pearson's Package store until 1969, when he started Pearson Century 21 Realty.

He was a long time member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege. He was active in community affairs serving as Charter President of the Holdrege Jaycees, and was President of the Holdrege Chamber of Commerce, as well as President of Holdrege Industrial Development Corporation, where he was proud to play a role in bringing Becton-Dickinson to Holdrege. Del was also past President of the Holdrege Country Club.

Del was an avid reader and enjoyed sports such as hunting and bowling, but his favorite sport was golf, which he continued to play until 2014. He received his 8 ^th hole-in-one at the age of 85. With Del's personality, he never knew a stranger.  He was always ready for a round of golf with friends, and good conversation after.  He liked people, and people liked him.

On October 9, 1992, Del married Ruth (Parman) Smith. The couple continued to reside in Holdrege. They shared many happy times with good friends in Arizona during the winter and beside Del's beloved golf course in the summers.

Besides his parents, and first wife, Catherine; Del was preceded in death by his brother, Leigh Pearson and his wife, Dora Lee and a nephew, Gaylord Pearson.

He leaves to celebrate his life; his wife, Ruth Pearson of Holdrege; two daughters:  Pam Nyberg, and Cass Orcutt and her husband, Dean; one son, Brad Pearson and his wife, Judy all of Holdrege; one step-daughter, Shelly Kayton and her husband, Curtis of Palisade, Nebraska; 7 grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren; a host of great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Memorial book signing will be held on Thursday, March 23, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Del's honor and kindly suggested to the Bethel Lutheran Church or the Nebraska Prairie Museum.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.