Viola Edith Pearson

Viola Edith Engstrom Baab Pearson, 94, passed away June 22, 2015 at her residence at the Bridge in Greeley. Vi was born March 17, 1921 in a farmhouse near Ault to Fred and Anna Engstrom. She was the fourth of five children. Vi graduated from Ault High School in 1939 and attended one year at Colorado Women’s College in Denver.

On May 18, 1941 Vi married her high school sweetheart, James Baab at the Ault Lutheran Church. When Jim was discharged after WWII they settled in Wyoming. They had 2 children before moving back to Greeley following an injury Jim sustained on the job.

Jim worked for Monfort and Vi began her 24 year career in District 6 where she started in the school lunch program and eventually becoming secretary to the superintendent of District 6 schools where she worked with at least 5 successive superintendents. After retiring she enjoyed traveling with Jim until his death in 1989. Vi married Vernon Pearson in 1992 in Estes Park. After Vernon’s passing, when Vi reached 91, she moved into the Bridge for her final years.

Vi was always active in the local Swedish club where she and Jim were instrumental in helping to put together the Stuga at Centennial Village. As a longtime member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Vi was active on many committees over the years. Being an excellent seamstress, she spent time learning the art of doll making from painting and firing the porcelain heads to making every detail of their costumes earning awards for her work. She took great pride in maintaining her home and her baking skills were excellent, especially when it came to Swedish recipes.

Survivors are her son Tim Baab (Patricia) of Wichita, Kansas; daughter Claire Anne Glover of Midland, TX; two grandchildren, Bjorn Baab of Bangkok, Thailand, Kirsten Small (David) of Lubbock, Texas and three great grandchildren, Reese, Kinsey and Phillip, all of Lubbock, TX; brother Fred Engstrom (Tress) of Ft. Collins; stepdaughter Pam Cooper (Chuck); and step-grandchildren Spencer and Mitchell Cooper all of Greeley.

Vi is preceded in death by her two husbands, parents, son-in-law John Glover and siblings Roy Engstrom, Evelyn Swanson and Margaret Anderson.

A viewing will be held starting at 9:00 a.m. with services and reception to follow at 10:00 a.m. at Our Saviors Lutheran Church on Thursday, June 25, 2015. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens at 11:30 am. Memorials can be made to Our Saviors Lutheran Church in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 702 13th St., Greeley, CO 80631. Friends may view the online obituary and send condolences at www.allnutt.com.