SODONA MAE NELSON PEARSON

Sodona Mae (Nelson) Pearson, 88, of Shakopee passed away peacefully in her sleep June 12, 2024. Sodona was born September 30, 1935, in Ft. Worth, Texas, to Horace and Anna Blanton. She attended high school in Ft. Worth, graduating in 1953. In 1954, she married Albert Lewis Nelson Jr. (Lewis) from Hadley. They made their home on the family farm near Hadley. Lewis passed away in 1977. In 1979, Sodona then married Glenn Walter Pearson of Slayton. They first lived in Slayton, then moved to Chaska, where Glenn was employed. They also made residence in Shakopee, New Prague and Jordan. Glenn passed away in 2019. Sodona then resided at St. Gertrudes assisted living and long-term care facilities in Shakopee from 2019 at where she passed. Sodona, many times called a ‘SAINT’ to have raised six sons, enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing, and crocheting while managing her family on the family farm. She also enjoyed dancing, especially polkas and waltz. Sodona, was a cook at Royal Supper Club in Slayton. When they moved to the metro area, Sodona took an A/R position with SPS Companies and then worked in the office at Precision Yard Services, a company owned by two of her sons, from which she retired. During her time at St. Gertrude’s she enjoyed playing bingo, conversing with other residents, watching old time westerns and gameshows on TV and most importantly, eating her SPAM with crackers and Butterfinger Bites! Sodona is survived by her sons, Mark (Lori) Nelson of Worthington; Marlin (Debbie) Nelson of Cave Creek, Ariz.; Gary (Lynn) Nelson of St. Kilian; Scott (Carol) Nelson of Litchfield; Bruce (Lisa) Nelson of New Prague; Bradley (Cheryl) Nelson of Shakopee. She is also survived by three stepchildren, Brenda (Pearson) Vien of Gallatin, Tenn.; Brian (Kara) Pearson of Apple Valley; Wendy Pearson of Eagan. Sodona is also survived by her two brothers, Harold (Beverly) Blanton of Hurst, Texas; Larry (Janice) Blanton of Ft. Worth; brothers-in-law James Phillips of Arlington, Texas, and Ernest Engelkes of Slayton, and three sisters-in-law, Elvera Nelson of Slayton; Norma Nelson of Wilmont, and Delores Klemp of Ohio, 26 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Sodona is preceded in death by her first and second husbands, her parents and parents-in-law, two sisters, three brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law. Memorial services will be at Totzke Funeral Home in Slayton on Friday, August 9, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. with visitation from 11 a.m. to time of services. To view online obituary and send condolences visit totzkefuneralhome.com. Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton is entrusted with arrangement.