Suzie Pearce

Mona Lolette "Suzie" Pearce, 83, of Bismarck, died peacefully at home on Monday, Oct. 20, 2014. Her funeral will be held Thursday, Oct. 23 at 10:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 214 E Thayer Ave, Bismarck, with Rev. Dr. Matthew Zuehlke officiating. Visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow the service at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Suzie was born to the late Paul and Mary Duncil Held, on April 27, 1931, in Idamay, WV. She graduated from Farmington High School, Farmington, WV, in 1949, and received a Business Administration degree from Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, WV, in 1953. Suzie married the late Thomas J. Pearce on July 18, 1953, and they lived together in Pittsburgh, PA, Lakewood, OH, Euclid, OH, Minneapolis, MN, and moved to Bismarck, ND, in 1969. Suzie was a homemaker, professional seamstress, dedicated volunteer and passionate cheerleader for her two children, Dave Pearce and Tracy Pearce Finneman. She learned her love of sewing from her mother, Mary, who made all of her clothing until Suzie, at 13 years old, received her first "store bought" dress. Suzie's license plate read Luv 2 Sew and reflected years of sewing for others, including western wear when Tracy was Miss Rodeo ND; a seat belt for New Salem Sue the world's largest holstein cow to promote wearing seat belts; and colorful, liturgical banners for First Presbyterian Church in Bismarck. Suzie was a partner in Dakota Denim, a small company that created clothing items out of recycled denim jeans. She was an investor in Papa's Greenhouse and a founding partner with Dave in Papa's Pumpkin Patch. Since 1983, her great passion and joy was fulfilling the role of Mrs. P at Papa's Pumpkin Patch. This included chief groundskeeper during the spring and summer months; seamstress for all flags, banners and fabric decorations; master scheduler for class field trips; volunteer coordinator; family chef or "chief cook and bottle washer" as she would say; and office manager. Suzie is survived by her two children, their spouses and one grandchild: Dave and his wife, Colleen Pearce; and Tracy and her husband, Cory Finneman, and their son Ben-Luke Metzger. Ben-Luke and "Nanny" Suzie began a special relationship when she started caring for Ben-Luke as an infant every Wednesday. Seventeen years later, Wednesdays are still Nanny's Day and the family gathers at Mrs. P's home for an evening meal together. In lieu of flowers and memorials, the family asks individuals to "pay it forward" for someone else or share a random act of kindess with another, much like Mrs. P has done for thousands in her lifetime.

Suzie Pearce

April 27, 1931 - October 20, 2014