Pearl Matthiesen

Nellie Pearl Beck Matthiesen was born on June 28, 1918 during World War I and grew up on her parents Ora Preston and Nellie Opal Becks family farm located 6 miles east of Bliss, Oklahoma in the Bressie community in Noble County. She passed away on March 30, 2014 in Ponca City, Oklahoma Pearl and her brother Charles attended the rural oneroom Tearney elementary school located 1 mile south and 1 mile east of their farm. They walked or rode a pony to school and back. Pearl attended Marland High School and graduated in May 1935. She attended Central State Teachers College, Edmond during 1935 to 1939, graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Education. During the 1938 1939 school year Pearl taught at the rural oneroom Happy Star elementary school located 4 miles east of Billings in northwestern Noble County. The school was located about 20 miles west of her parents farm in northeastern Noble County. She did everything at the school including teaching, grading, reporting, starting the fire in the stove early to warm the school, and sweeping the building. Pearl also taught elementary school in Marland, Tonkawa, and Billings. In her free time she worked on some correspondence courses to complete her college degree. In February 1944 Pearl married Rex Andrew Matthiesen of Billings. Rex preceded her in death on September 04, 1999. They had three sons: Duane J. Jim born in 1944, Robert Lee Bob born in 1947, and Preston Andrew born in 1948. Pearl was proud to have worked hard all of her life. You might say she was a twentieth century pioneer woman. She was a hard working farmwife always an able partner for Rex with the farm work and business ndash driving the wheat truck, hauling hay to cows, repairing fences, driving tractors when necessary. Pearl was always there for whomever in the family needed her. She sold fresh eggs to people from all over the area. Pearl continued to live at their home at 401 North Broadway in Billings. Finally in August 2013, at age 95 and 2 months, her health declined significantly, so she moved to the Via Christi Village assistedliving apartments and nursing rooms in Ponca City. Pearl is survived by six grandchildren Peter Andrew Matthiesen of Perry, Oklahoma, Chance Lee Matthiesen of Oklahoma City, Trenton Jack Matthiesen of Porterville, California, Nathanael Karl Matthiesen of North Carolina, Caleb Karl Matthiesen of Seattle, Washington, and Felicia Hurst Brantley of Fort Worth, Texas seven greatchildren, Ryan Lee Matthiesen and Lily Elizabeth Matthiesen of Perry, Oklahoma, Ty Michael Matthiesen, Hudson Robert Matthiesen and Lily Grace Matthiesen of Edmond, Oklahoma, Lyla Lynn Matthiesen of Porterville, California, and Jordan Andrew Wright of Fort Worth, Texas two sistersinlaw, Andrea Matthiesen McCluskey of Billings, Oklahoma, and Otta Lea Beck of Ponca City, Oklahoma. She is preceded in death by her parents her husband one son, Bob Matthiesen 2005 and one brother, Charles Beck. The family will be receiving friends from 6pm to 8pm, Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at Dugger Funeral Home in Billings. Funeral Services are 2pm, Thursday, April 3, 2014 at the Billings First Baptist Church with David Tanner officiating. Interment will follow in Union Cemetery in Billings. Memorials may be made to the Billings First Baptist Church or Union Cemetery in Billings in care of Dugger Funeral Home, 1010 N. 7th, Perry, Oklahoma 73077. Condolences may be made online at www.duggerfuneralhome.com.