Published in The Daily News on 3/28/2008. Longview, Washington Donald E. Pearson 1936-2008 Donald Elving Pearson, 71, of Longview died March 21, 2008, at St. John Medical Center. He was born Aug. 29, 1936, in Astoria, to Elving and Jennie (Hoikka) Pearson. He graduated from Naselle High School in 1954 and completed classes at Lower Columbia College, Clatsop Community College and Portland State University. Mr. Pearson served in the Air Force from February 1955 to August 1963, serving in Libya, Labrador, Alaska, California, Oklahoma, Texas and Montana. He was a lumber puller at Weyerhaeuser before retiring in 1979. He was a member of Vasa Order of America, Danish Society, NW Danish Foundation, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Buick Club of America, Kaiser Fraser Owners Club International and a former 4-H leader. He enjoyed playing the accordion, collecting model cars, preserving his Scandinavian heritage, quality time with family, traveling, dancing and photography, as well as time with the "granddogs", especially Jack. Mr. Pearson was a quiet, listener and observer of life, lovingly proud of his family. He was a gentle maverick with a unique sense of humor. He married Barbara Jean Russell Oct. 5, 1957, in Oklahoma. They later divorced. On Oct. 21, 1958, he married Bernice Joanne Amundsen in Astoria. She survives him at home. Also surviving are his mother, Jennie Pearson of Rosburg; four sons, Donald W. Pearson of Abilene, Texas, Jeffrey Pearson of Broken Arrow, Okla., Erik Pearson and his wife, Hilary of North Haven, Conn., and Olaf Person of LaCrosse, Wis.; two daughters and their husbands, Jennifer and Ivan Grubbs of Butler, Okla., and Ingrid and Jeremy Peterson of Olympia; six grandchildren, Jenna, Jordan, Clay and Dana Jo Grubbs of Butler and Henry and Evie Pearson of North haven; a great-grandson, Zachary Grubbs of Butler; a sister and brother-in-law, Judith and Allan Jones of Longview; and several nieces, nephews and cousins throughout the U.S. and Scandinavia. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 5 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 2218 E. Kessler Blvd., in Longview. Pastor Kurt Gieschen will officiate. A viewing will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, April 4 at Steele Chapel at Longview Memorial Park & Crematory. Memorial contributions may be made to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 2218 E. Kessler Blvd., Longview, WA 98632 or Vasa Order of America District PNW #13 Scholarship Fund, care of Kristina Newesmo, 2917 357th Ave., SE, Fall City, WA 98024. www.tdn.com/obits. Longview Memorial Park & Crematory-Longview, WA 29 August 1936-21 March 2008 (As compiled by the Wahkiakum County Historical Society in 2008.)