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Submitted: 9/17/21 • Approved: 9/19/21 • Last Updated: 9/22/21 • R1390567-G1390567-S3
Dennis
April 15, 1925 - August 31, 2005
*Obituary
The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas
Friday, September 2, 2005
Dennis E. Pierson, 80, of Bentonville died Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005, at his home. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3 at St. Stephens Catholic Church in Bentonville with the Rev. Michael D. Sinker officiating. Burial will be in St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Cemetery.
A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday Sept 2 at Rollins Funeral Home in Rogers.
Dennis was born April 15, 1925, to the late Stanley and Pearl (Arthur) Pierson. In June 1946, Dennis was drafted by the U.S. Army and served in the Philippine Islands as an artillery man and was discharged as a private 1st class in May 1947.
He joined St. Peter and St. Paul Catholic Church in Ivanhoe, Minn., in 1948, and was married to Mary Ann Behnke on April 26, 1948. They lived by Marshall, Minn., for five years, then lived by Ivanhoe for 30 years where they farmed. In 1977, they built a public airport on their farm and trained students to fly for the Ivanhoe Flying Club. Dennis was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the aircraft owners and pilots association, was on the Minnesota Aviation Advisory Council and served as president of the Flying Farmers of Minnesota. He loved flying, bowling, playing cards with friends and antique cars.
In March 1959, they bought a trucking company, purchased two hog buying stations in 1996 and bought butcher hogs for Morrell in Sioux Falls, S.D., Armour in Worthington, Minn., and Supreme Pack in Sioux Center, Iowa, for 18 years. In September of 1984, they moved to Bentonville and founded Cloverleaf Express Trucking Co., a flat bed trucking business and hauled store front signs for Wal-Mart's new stores and general commodities pulling Wal-Mart trailers.
Dennis is survived by his wife, Mary Ann and his children Phyllis Saunders of Willmar, Minn., Bonnie Peterson and her husband Gerald of Sioux Falls, James Pierson of Centerton; four sisters, Elsie Farrell and her husband Roy of Maryville, Mo., Doris McDonald of Maryville, Donna Pierson of Maryville and Helen Davidson and her husband Raymond of Gravity, Iowa. He is also survived by four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, a half brother, two brothers, a son-in-law and granddaughter.
Memorials may be made to Circle of Life Hospice, 610 E. Emma Ave., Springdale, 72764 or St. Stephens Catholic Church, 1300 N.E. "J" St., Bentonville, 72712.
Online tributes may be made at www.mem.com.
Arrangements are by Rollins Funeral Home in Rogers.
Mary
February 28, 1930 - February 5, 2021
*Obituary
Rollins Funeral Home
Rogers, Arkansas
Mary Ann Pierson, 90, of Bentonville, died February 5, 2021 at Circle of Life Hospice. 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.
Married April 26, 1948
Contributed on 9/17/21 by wfields55
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Record #: 1390567