Pearl Edna Voss was born December 2, 1910 in Andover, South Dakota, one of ten children born to Claude and Alta (Peterson) Voss. She grew up and received her education in Andover.

Pearl was united in marriage to Bob Gerdon on January 24, 1927 at Clark, South Dakota. They lived in the Clark area for two years before moving to Mellette County in 1929.

Raising their family in the depression years of the 30¹s was trying. Pearl
and Bob lived on a farm approximately twenty miles southeast of Belvidere, milking cows, raising chickens and geese, and growing a garden. Bob worked construction during the summer months. For eight years Pearl cooked and worked at the nearby England Ranch during the summer months and at that time her children took over the chores at home.

In 1955 Bob and Pearl sold their cows and moved into Belvidere where Bob was the town Marshall. Pearl cooked at the Belvidere School for three years, and in later years she worked at cafes and managed the Cozy Corner Motel. Pearl kept her clippers and scissors busy being the town barber. She was a nursemaid and carried mail and groceries to the elderly. Pearl was very well-known for her photography as she never left home without her camera.

From March 1958 until January 22, 1974, Pearl was employed as clerk at the Belvidere Post Office. On April 13, 1974, she was appointed Postmaster. After becoming Postmaster, Pearl joined two postal leagues and attended all
the state and national conventions.

It was at this time she earned her nickname "Flying Grandma" for all the traveling she did attending different seminars and conventions.

In January 1978, her husband Bob preceded her in death. She continued to work as Postmaster and in 1979, Pearl was awarded the Postmaster of the Year honor at the state convention in Spearfish. In 1980, Pearl retired from the
Postal Service after twenty-two and a half years of service.

After retirement, Pearl spent the winter months in Arizona and lived in Belvidere during the summer. Later, Pearl moved to Philip and in November 1999 she moved into the Silverleaf Assisted Living Center in Philip. In 2001
Pearl moved into the Kadoka Nursing Home, where she has since resided.

Pearl was a member of the United Church of Philip, and the Peterson-Stoddard American Legion Auxiliary of Belvidere.

Grateful for having shared her life include two daughters Charlotte Blom and her husband Willis of Philip, and LaVonne Foreman and her husband Milton of Belvidere; one son Roscoe Gerdon of Tucson, Arizona; fourteen grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; nineteen great-great-grandchildren; a sister
Eunice Meyer of Yuma, Arizona; three brothers Clifford Voss of Hill City, Orville Voss and his wife Jacquie of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Gordon Voss and his wife Hellen of Phenix City, Alabama; and a host of other relatives and
friends.

In addition to her husband, Bob, Pearl was preceded in death by two daughters Myrna Gerdon and Mardell Ufen; one grandson Neil Foreman; one great-grandson Jeramiah Kary; her parents; one sister, Verna Deardorff; four
brothers, Cecil, Norman, Leo and Marvin.

Visitation was held 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 12, at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Kadoka, and one hour preceding the services at the church on Wednesday.

Funeral services were held 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 13, at the Belvidere Presbyterian Church in Belvidere, with Pastor Gary McCubbin officiating.

Interment will be Wednesday at 1:45 p.m. CDT at the Murdo Cemetery.

A memorial is established.

FUNERAL SERVICES
Wednesday, October 13, 2004 10:00 a.m.
Presbyterian Church
Belvidere, South Dakota
CLERGY
Pastor Gary McCubbin
MUSIC
Syd Iwan – Pianist
Kim Foreman – Vocalist
"On The Wings Of A Dove"
"Beyond The Sunset"
USHERS
Tom DeVries – Don DeVries
PALLBEARERS
Lloyd Blom – Jim Kary
Rodney Foreman – Rick Dennis
Kelly Gerdon – Robert Ufen – Gene Gerdon
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Pearl’s Grandchildren, Great-Grandchildren,
and Great-Great-Grandchildren
INTERMENT
Wednesday, October 13, 2004 1:45 p.m. CDT
Murdo Cemetery
Murdo, South Dakota