Lyle C Pearson Sr.

Northview - North Mankato Mortuary
2060 Commerce Drive
North Mankato, MN 56003
507-388-2288

Lyle Pearson Sr. age 92 of North Mankato, died Friday, January 11, 2013 at Crystal Seasons in Lake Crystal.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in North Mankato with Rev. Ted Hottinger S.J. officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Mankato. Visitation will be held from 4 " 7 p.m., Tuesday at Northview- North Mankato Mortuary and one hour before the service at the church on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, the family would like memorials directed to the DAV.

Lyle C. Pearson was born February 5, 1921 in Montevideo, MN to Clarence and Mary (Ertel) Pearson. He graduated from St. Peter High School and was also elected to their Hall of Fame in later years. He was proud of his service in the Civilian Conservation Corps near the Ely, MN. Lyle enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in May of 1942. He completed training as a pilot for the B-17 bomber and was assigned to the 15th Air Force in Europe and flew 50 combat missions over occupied territory until they were shot down over Italy in December of 1944. Lyle was a prisoner of war until liberated by Soviet army troops in May of 1945. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with Clusters, and the Purple Heart. During his time in the military Lyle was united in marriage to Katherine Fuller on September 6, 1942 in San Diego, CA.

Lyle administered the programs of the Nicollet County Juvenile Court and Nicollet County Court Services since 1957, first as the Chief Probation Officer and then as the Director of Court Services. He also serviced as Nicollet and LeSueur Juvenile Traffic Courts for 12 years and also served on the selection board for Correction Agents. In 1969 he was chosen as the Minnesota Corrections Man of the Year.

During the period from 1975 " 1976 he served as National Commander of the Disabled American Veterans. He presented legislative programs on behalf of the DAV to the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees. In 1974 he was one of six Citizens of the United States to be a guest of the Soviet Union to participate in the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the end of World War II.

He was a member of the National Legislative Committee of the DAV, legislative committee of the Minnesota Association to County Probation Officers and is also a past president. He was a board member of the Minnesota Valley Action Council, a past 4 " H club leader, past president of Holy Rosary Church Men's Club, Past Grand Knight of North Mankato Council # 5551 and Holy Rosary Catholic Church.

Lyle was a volunteer at St. Peter State Hospital, for the past 54 years, member of volunteer council of this institution. He was a fight judge for the Golden Gloves Boxing program and a regular donor for the Red Cross Bloodmobile and has received his 8 gallon donor pin.

Lyle is survived by his seven children: Colleen Bianchi of North Mankato, Lyle Pearson, Jr. of North Mankato, Rosemary (Ron) Roxbury of Milwaukee, WI, Lloyd (Tyllene) Pearson of North Mankato, Ann (Mark) Holden of Eagle Bend, Gail (Bob) Nolte of Mesa, AZ, and Kurt (Penny) Pearson of North Mankato; grandchildren: Jolleen (Tim) Ruppert, Joann Bianchi (special friend Curt), Cathy (special friend, Kent) Bianchi, Chad (Cindy) Columbari, Brent (Stacy) Pearson, Jesse Pearson, Dylan Pearson, Jenna Nolte, Dustin Pearson, Kurette Pearson (special friend, Andrew), and Kyley Pearson (special friend, Darren); four great-grandchildren: Cecilia and Camilo Columbari, Sydney and Evan Pearson; and half-brother, John Peittersen of Kasota.
Preceded in death by his parents, wife Katherine in January of 2012, and other family.