Alice Ione Pierson
Alice Ione Pierson (Rasmussen) passed away peacefully with her daughters at her side Jan. 20 in Kalispell.
Alice was born Dec. 28, 1928 on the home farm, near Maddock, N.D. She was the daughter of John and Clara Rasmussen.
Her early school years were spent in the township of Hesper, where piano lessons began in fifth grade.
High school began for Alice in Wahpeton where she lived with her oldest sister and brother-in-law, Anna and Gordon. Saxophone lessons gave her the chance to play in the Benson County High School band in Maddock during her final two years of high school. After graduating salutatorian, she worked at the Farmers State Bank as a teller and bookkeeper.
College days were spent at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. The saxophone joined her in the concert and pep bands. She graduated in 1952 in business education, sociology, psychology with a minor in economics.
Alice’s first job after college was a teaching position in Stanford. Helmer Pierson, an eligible railroader, introduced the farm girl to the exploring the mountains, and they were married in December 1953. Barbara Jean was born in 1955 and Janice Joy was born in 1956. After a break from her teaching career to care for toddlers, she returned to teaching in Stanford.
The family relocated to Shelby where Alice taught high school until Helmer’s railroad retirement. With both daughters out of the house and completed college, Alice and Helmer packed the pickup camper in search of a home in western Montana.
They landed in Thompson Falls and enjoyed trips in the mountains for huckleberries and firewood. Alice landed a gig with her saxophone again, this time with the Old Moldies band.
Helmer resided in the Montana Veterans Home for several months prior to his death in 1995. During his illness, Alice moved to Whitefish where she resided until 2010. Another move to Heritage Place in Kalispell provided a warm, loving, compassionate environment.
Survivors include sister, Anna Rasmussen, Fergus Falls, Minn.; brother, John Rasmussen (Joyce ), Maddock, N.D.; and sister, Donna Buletti (Henry), Meridith, N.H.; daughters, Barbara (Jim Lewandoski), Fairbanks, Alaska, and Joy (Gil Raviv), Portland, Maine; granddaughters, Emmy and Elise (Joy); and grandsons, Dawson and Casey (Barbara).
She is predeceased by her husband, Helmer; brothers, Roy and Donald; and sister, Helen.
A memorial service and graveside ceremony will be arranged at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in the memory of Alice may be made to St. Peters Lutheran Church, Whitefish, Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp, or to a recipient of the donor’s choice.