Pearl Strand

Pearl H. Strand, 91, of New London, died Friday, Oct. 1, at Glen Oaks Care Center in New London.

Memorial service will be held at 11 A.M., Friday, October 8th, at Peace Lutheran Church in New London. Friends may call from 4 to 7 P.M. Thursday at the Peterson Brothers Green Lake Funeral Home in Spicer and at the church one hour prior to the services. The interment will be at a later date at the Spicer City Cemetery. The family has requested that memorial be directed to the Rice Hospice Program at Rice Hospital in Willmar in lieu of flowers.

Pearl Helen (Peifer) Strand was born on May 27, 1919 in Benson, Minnesota, the daughter of Anna (Olson) and William Peifer. At the age of 16, she moved with her parents to the New London area and she graduated form Paynesville High School. On January 10, 1939 she was married to Sidney B. Strand and they made their home in New London. They took over the Strand Outdoor Advertising in 1939 where she did the bookkeeping, was office manager and also went out and put up the billboards, taking the children with her. They sold the advertising business in 1947. She later worked for Earl B. Olson at Farmers Produce doing payroll, bookkeeping and general office work. Pearl also worked for Steel Tanks, Inc. of New London, Paynesville Egg Processing Plant in Paynesville and later managed two departments for Montgomery Ward store in Willmar. After Sidney retired in 1970, she took a part time job at Glen Oaks Care Center in New London so that they could travel to Texas in the winter and to Canada to fish in the summer. Sidney died in February of 1982. In 1985, Pearl joined the Foster Grandparent Program and volunteer at the Willmar Regional Treatment Center. She volunteer for 14 years at the New London/Spicer Elementary School, 3 summers with the Migrant School in Willmar and 3 summers volunteering at the boy AT Unit at the Willmar Regional Treatment Center.

Pearl was an active member of Peace Lutheran Church, a 60 year member (Life Member) of the American Legion Auxiliary and past president of the New London and Spicer Auxiliaries. She loved being with family and friends and enjoyed fishing, canning and taking care of her favorite two dogs.

She is survived by three daughters; Patricia (and James) Doty of Spicer, Barbara Strand of Willmar and Kristin (and Lee) Grinager of New London, six grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandson and two special dogs. Also surviving is one sister, Ann Munt of Minneapolis, one brother-in-law, Bill Aurandt of Circle Pines and one sister-in-law Loretta Peifer of Melrose, besides other relatives and friends. Pearl was preceded in death by her parents, husband (Sidney in 1982), grandson (Mark Junkermeier), two sisters; Florence Lindblade and Phyllis Aurandt and four brothers; Ward, Wallace, Clinton and Billy Peifer.