Pearl Hoium, age 94, of Kensington, MN, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 27, 2017, at the Community Memorial Home in Osakis following a 17 year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, September 30th, at First Lutheran Church in Kensington, with Pastor Janna Bader officiating. Visitation will be at the church, one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Glenwood.

Pearl Olive Irene Braaten was born December 19, 1922, in Kensington, MN, to parents Ida (Opheim) and Olaf Braaten. Pearl graduated from Kensington High School in 1942. She met Ernie Hoium when she sold him an ice cream cone. They married in 1943 and, in 1945, purchased their farm south of Kensington where they made their home for the next 57 years.  Pearl and Ernie enjoyed their life together on the farm until 1997, when they made their new home in the town of Kensington.

Pearl’s happiest moments were spent with family and friends. She enjoyed dancing, visiting, and was a sharp shooter with her .22 rifle. She was an avid gardener and had a passion for flowers. She loved to bake and cook and taught her granddaughters the art of making lefse, which usually ended in a flour fight, leaving her laughing so hard she would cry. Her skills in the kitchen led her to Kensington Public School where she was a cook for 25 years. She cherished her co-workers, the kids, and everyone loved Pearl!

Pearl is survived by her daughters, Bonnie (Darrell) Leverson of Alexandria and Holly (Dennis) Harnish of Kensington; four grandchildren, Carmen (Scott) Privratsky of Rice, Darla (Ryan) Ahrendt of Tomah, WI, Deanna Leverson of Eden Prairie, and Derek (Brenda) Harnish of Fargo, ND; five great-grandchildren, Makenna and Grant Privratsky, Benjamin and Samuel Ahrendt, and Ruby Harnish; one sister, Joyce Wille of Morris; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. 

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ernie in 2000; brother, Delmore Braaten; and sister, Ivadell Stensby, 

The family would like to give a special thank you to Brandy and the staff at Douglas County Hospice and the caregivers at the Community Memorial Home in Osakis.

In lieu of flowers please send memorials to the Douglas County Hospice in Alexandria or The Alzheimer’s Association.

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