Lucille Stearns

FUNERAL SERVICES : 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Snellman, MN with Reverend John Johannes officiating.VISITATION : 5:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. on Friday, May 13, 2011 at Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN.INTERMENT : St. Pauls Lutheran Cemetery, Ponsford, MNSURVIVORS : Her two sons: Dean (Deb) Stearns of Park Rapids, MN and Rod (Pat) Stearns of Ponsford, MN; her daughter-in-law, Linda Stearns of Osage; 8 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. LUCILLE IRENE STEARNSDecember 19,1917 " May 7, 2011 Lucille Irene Stearns, age 93, a long time Ponsford-Osage, MN area resident, was promoted into Glory on May 7, 2011 at the Essentia Health Center in Fargo, ND with her loved ones at her side. Lucille was born on December 19, 1917 at Chasely, ND to George and Estella (Miller) Wilkinson. While she was just a baby, her family traveled by covered wagon from North Dakota to northern MN where they settled on a farm near Backus. Lucille"s family was blessed with the birth of her sister, Faye in 1920, but tragedy struck a short time later when her mother died in January of 1921. Lucille and her baby sister were cared for by her mother"s parents. Lucille attended Backus Public Schools and graduated in the spring of 1936 as class valedictorian. She went on to attend the Girl"s Residence School in St. Paul from 1936 to 1937. She then attended Normal Teacher"s training at Walker, MN where she obtained her teaching certificate. While attending her teaching classes, Lucille worked as a waitress at Bob"s Caf in Walker for her room and board and later at the Nickel Skillet. Her teaching career began in 1938 when she taught at the Trankner Country School located between Ponsford and Osage. The following year took her back to the Backus area where she taught at the Lincoln School. In 1940, she returned to the Ponsford area and taught at the Boot Lake School. On April 5, 1941, Lucille was united in marriage to Boyd Edward Stearns. The young couple made their home in the Ponsford-Osage area. They were blessed with three sons: Dean Everett, David Edward and Rodney Orin. In 1946, Lucille resumed her teaching career at the Linnell Country School near Ponsford where she taught until 1950. In 1954 she taught at the Pickeral Lake School and in 1956 she taught at the McKarren School. In 1957 she began teaching the 3rd grade at the new Osage School and continued teaching in that same facility until her retirement in 1983. Her life was not free from grief. She endured the death of her husband in May of 1980 after 39 years of marriage and her son, David who died unexpectedly in November of 1997. Lucille enjoyed traveling and ventured from Oregon to New York City and from Alaska to Florida and the many memorable stops in between. She loved working in her vegetable garden. She crocheted countless doilies as gifts for her friends and family members and also enjoyed working with ceramics over the years. Lucille was a masterful card player who loved to win. She was a member of the Kozy Klan Homemakers Club, the Helping Hand Community Club, the Osage Widows Club, The Osage Sr. Citizens Club and St. Pauls Lutheran Church. Above all, Lucille devoted her life to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who she loved with all her heart. She will be lovingly remembered by her two sons: Dean (Deb) Stearns of Park Rapids, MN and Rod (Pat) Stearns of Ponsford, MN; her daughter-in-law, Linda Stearns of Osage; 8 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Boyd; son, David; sister, Faye; l grandchild in infancy as well as the grand parents who raised her, Harry and Ella Miller. Funeral services will be held 2 PM Saturday, May 14 at the Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Snellman with the Rev. John M. Johannes of St. Pauls Lutheran Church officiating. The pianist will be Lucille"s great grandchild, Allison Stearns. Her great grandchildren will also sing, "Shine Jesus Shine" The congregational hymns will be: "The Battle Hymn of The Republic" and "Amazing Grace". The casket bearers will be her grandsons: Mike Stearns, Brian Stearns, Chuck Stearns and Aaron Stearns and great grandsons: Clinton Stearns and Ryan Stearns. The honorary casket bearers will be her grand daughters: LeAnn Kubik, Tina Schulz, Jenny Stearns and Trish Harms. Interment will be made in the St Pauls Lutheran Church Cemetery near Ponsford. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 PM on Friday, May 13, 2011 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home and for one hour prior to the service at the church. Following the service a luncheon will be provided by St Pauls Lutheran Church.