Lowell Royce Pearson, 90, died Monday, October 30, 2017 at his home in rural Alcester, SD.  A graveside service will be 1:00 PM, Friday, November 3, 2017 at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Alcester, SD.  A Celebration of Life service will follow at 2:00 PM, November 3, 2017 at Nathanael Lutheran Church, Alcester, SD.

Lowell Royce Pearson was born May 18, 1927 in Alcester, SD to Martin Carl and Edith Henrietta (Benson) Pearson.  He lived a happy childhood on the family farm with his 2 brothers and 4 sisters.   Lowell attended Elmwood country school and graduated Alcester  High School in 1945.

Lowell married Joyce Eileen Johnson on May 21, 1949.  Lowell and Joyce were married for 46 years in which he cared for her during an 11 year battle with cancer. At the age of 25, he was drafted into the United States Army and proudly served in the Korean War for 22 months. Following his time in the service, he returned home to South Dakota and settled into farming.  Farming was in his blood, it was his job, his hobby and his entertainment.  Most conversations with Lowell included planting, harvesting or just the daily happenings on the farm.  His 3 daughters and grandchildren were raised with the same love of the land, helping with chores and with anything that needed to be done.  He had always wanted to fly a plane, so in 1961, he successfully completed his first solo flight.  Lowell loved flying his Piper Super Cub with other flying buddies to many fly-in breakfasts.

He enjoyed riding motorcycles and snowmobiles and was constantly fixing and riding whatever was brought to him.  Faith was an important part of Lowell's life.  He was an active member of Nathanael Lutheran Church and rarely missed a Sunday.  His family was his pride and joy and he shared that with them daily.

Lowell is survived by his three daughters, Sandra (Gregg) Rasmussen, Beresford, SD, Susan Shires, Beresford, SD and Janice (Paul) Walter, Alcester, SD; six grandchildren Angie (Jamie) Henderson, Brandi (Dave) Smith, Shawn (Crystal) Beeler, Christopher Rasmussen, Rachelle (Joel) Heisterkamp, Dustin Walter and  5 great-grandchildren: Ashlynn, Tessa, Ian, Kalee and Grayson; brother, Russell (Clarice) Pearson, Renner, SD; and two sisters, Opal Harris and Viola Noah, both from Salinas, CA.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce, in 1995; his parents, Carl and Edith; two sisters, LaVonne Gunderson and Fern Triptow; brother, Wendell Pearson; and his special friend, Janette Sogn.