Wilbur F. Pearson

Wilbur Frank Pearson was born August 20, 1925, on a farm east of Beloit to Frank Oscar and Edna Sabella (Rominger) Pearson, the 4th child of 6, and passed away Thursday, April 27, 2017 at the age of 91 years.
He spent his younger years on the Pearson homestead west of Simpson until his father had to go elsewhere to find work. In 1930, Frank moved his family to Gering, Nebraska, where he worked with his brother-in-law doing irrigating, and helping out at the dairy. Times were hard in the 30s and sometimes there just wasn't enough money to get paid, so to support his family, Frank moved to Pinebluff, Wyoming, and worked for another farmer. By this time, Wilbur was big enough to help too.
In 1939, the family moved back close to the homestead west of Simpson, where he grew to adulthood. World War II broke out, and Wilbur's older brother, Robert joined the service, but Frank needed help on the farm. So, through special government permission, Wilbur quit high school in his sophomore year to help his father. He always regretted not having a high school diploma.
On August 26, 1946, he eloped with the love of his life, Faye Arlene Bell, and they spent the next almost 66 years together. To this union, 3 children were born: Sheldon Wayne, Monty Lane, and Shirley Elaine.
Wilbur was always an outside man. He loved working the soil, watching things grow, and reaping the harvest, whether it was his grain crops, or from the large garden he always had. He raised chickens for eggs and meat, sheep, a few milk cows, and a few pigs. There wasn't anything he couldn't do. He remodeled homes, did carpentry, wiring, plumbing, hung wall paper, and painted. He also did most of his own mechanical work, both on his farm equipment and his vehicles. If he could take it apart, he could fix it and put it back together. The only thing that baffled him was trying to read written instructions to put something together.
He held several different jobs over the years from the Coop Grocery Store, Coop Station, Beloit Feed Mill and Elevator, and Sunflower Manufacturing, all in Beloit. He held the Marshall's job in Simpson for a couple of years, and also worked for the Leinen Brothers Grain Company, all the while still farming. He loved raising sheep and did so for several years. When the family farm was sold in 1993 and the farm equipment all sold, he and Faye decided to travel more. When the family was young, they went camping every summer in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado, first with a tent, and later a canvas topped trailer…and he had wonderful memories of those times. He and Faye traveled coast to coast and border to border with their little travel trailer until Faye's dementia made it unsafe any more.

Wilbur was a very loving man. He delighted in his children, grandchildren, and then his great grandchildren. He loved kids…loved to hug, tease, and play with them…and they all adored him. When diagnosed with spinal stenosis, and following his surgery, it was getting harder for him to get around. He would sit in his garage and make bird houses, bird feeders, doll beds for his granddaughters, airplane wind vanes, and shell all kinds of nuts to give away. When that was no longer possible, and he was house bound, he cooked…goodies for the bank staff, and the Post Office, as well as for neighbors or shut-ins there in town. He was a good cook (he taught Faye how after they were married) and it gave him something to do. He always had a fascination for trains, and would watch the train videos he had over and over.
Wilbur was always a Christian man, attending church his entire life. He was a member of the Simpson Baptist Church, holding many offices there while Faye was the pianist and organist. When the family was young, he and Faye would take their three kids, and pick up at least three more children and an elderly lady and take them along too. And yes the car was pretty crowded, but he was glad to do it.
In May 2016, he fell three times in one day, and found he could no longer walk. It was decided he couldn't live safely alone anymore, and he moved into Hilltop Lodge in Beloit. He could no longer do the things he loved, and it took away his quality of life. He missed Faye so much, and watching TV, except for a few select programs, bored him to death. His failing eyesight took the ability to read his Reader's Digest, Reminisce, and newspapers. He just wanted to go be with Faye.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife Faye on his birthday in 2012, his oldest son Sheldon in December 2010, brother Dale at age 16, brother Charles in infancy, brother Robert and sister-in-law Arleen, and brother-in-law Bill Lush.
He leaves to mourn his passing his son Monty and wife Jackie of Simpson, daughter Shirley and husband Jim Beisel of Peabody, sister Melva Lush, and brother Dean Pearson, both of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Also are grandchildren, Boyd Pearson, Dale Pearson and wife Missy of Oklahoma, Shane Pearson of Kansas City, Missouri, Jaime Michalides and husband Chris of Phoenix, Darin Schlesener and wife Beth of Hope, Kansas, Dena Hall and husband Justin of Colwich, Kansas, Curtiss Schlesener and wife Lisa of Herington, Kansas, Janet Kingman and husband Joe of Pittsburg, Kansas, Brian Manderscheid of Simpson, Jason Manderscheid and wife Jessica of Frontenac…and his beloved great grandchildren, as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be at 2 PM Saturday, May 6 at the Simpson Community Church. Cremation was chosen & there will be no visitation. Memorials may be given to the Church.