Kathleen Pierson Obituary

BUTTERFIELD:   A Private Graveside Services for Kathleen P. Pierson, 86, of rural Butterfield, Minnesota will be 1:00 p.m. Sunday, August 7, 2022 at the Butterfield Cemetery in rural Butterfield with Pastor Andy Hermondson-Olsen officiating.  

  Kathleen was called to her eternal rest on Tuesday morning, July 12, 2022 at her home in rural Butterfield, Minnesota.     Messages of Sympathy may be sent to the family online at www.kramerfuneralhome.com

Kathleen “Kayo” (Peterson) Pierson, 86, of Butterfield, passed away July 12 at her home on the family farm.

She was born on August 28, 1935 to the late Theodore and Beulah (Fitzsimmons) Peterson in Galena Township in Martin County. She was baptized at Waverly Lutheran Church near Trimont. 

Kathleen graduated from Trimont High school in 1953 and then attended and graduated from the Minnesota Teaching School. On June 18, 1960 she was united in marriage to Nels Pierson Jr. at First Lutheran Church in Butterfield. The couple moved to the family farm southwest of Butterfield where they raised Registered Guernseys and were blessed with five children.

She taught English, German, and History in many area schools before finding her passion of teaching English as a Second Language to young students. She taught ESL in the Faribault School District for 19 years before retiring in 2010. During that time she was also evening librarian at Shattuck St. Mary’s school in Faribault and she earned her Master’s Degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Kathleen was a member of the Long Lake Lutheran Church, a leader in the ELCA, longtime 4-H adult leader, member of the Guernsey Association and served on the school board.

In addition to teaching she enjoyed watching her grandchildren in school and 4-H events, traveling, reading, crosswords, and gardening. She quietly took great pride in the many flowers she grew on the farm and looked forward to every spring when she could bring some color into the world.

Kathleen is survived by her daughters Christina Pierson of Minneapolis, Erika Pierson of Mankato: sons Anders (Sheila) Pierson of Butterfield and Nels (Nicole) Pierson III of Rochester. Grandchildren Lukas, Seth, Ryan, Sonja, Nels IV, Mardoche, Finn, and Aiden Pierson. Sisters Allegra Fredrickson of Oakdale, Patricia Nordhausen of Woodbury, Beverly Welchlin of St. James, and Mary Petrisko of Stillwater. Sisters-in-law, Ruby Ekstrom of Butterfield, Vivian Blomgren of St. James, Eloise Zellmer of Waterville, and Marilyn Pierson of Trimont.

She was preceded in death by her husband Nels (2001), parents Theodore and Beulah Peterson, in-laws Nels and Anne Pierson, daughter Johanna Kay, sister Barb Tomlinson, sister-in-law Beverly Ahern, brothers-in-law Richard Tomlinson, Richard Fredrickson, Dave Nordhausen, Vance Welchlin, John Petrisko, Larry Ahern, Eldon Ekstrom, Clarence Blomgren, Leo Zellmer and Leland “Butch” Pierson