Mary Ann Pierson

She was born February 28, 1930 to Peter and Frances (Pickarski) Behnke in Ivanhoe, Minnesota. She was one of five children. Mary Ann was baptized, received her first holy communion, and was confirmed at Sts Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Ivanhoe, Minnesota. On April 26, 1948, she married Dennis E. Pierson. They made their home in Ivanhoe, farming and trucking. They were blessed with three children. In 1984, they moved to Bentonville, Arkansas where they continued trucking. Mary Ann and Dennis were active in the Flying Farmers of Minnesota. In 1978, Mary Ann was chosen as the Minnesota Flying Farmers Queen, which took them on many trips around the United States.

She enjoyed gardening, dancing, bowling, playing cards. She loved riding along with Dennis, while over the road trucking, crocheting many afghans along the way.

Mary Ann retired in December 2004. In retirement, she enjoyed putting jigsaw puzzles together, her dog Angel, traveling to visit her daughter and grandchildren, weekly breakfast dates with her son and spending time with her many friends. Her favorite hobby was tending her many flowers and plants with her amazing green thumb. In the spring she could be found helping her daughter open her flower gardens and potting plants for the patio.

She is survived by her children, Phyllis Saunders of Centerton, Arkansas; Bonnie (Gerald) Peterson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; James E. Pierson, Centerton, Arkansas; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Mary Ann is preceded in death by her husband, Dennis; her parents; two brothers; two sisters; two sons-in-law; one granddaughter; and one grandson.