Pearl Jones, 90, of Lakefield, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, January 10, 2025, at her home in Lakefield, Minnesota.
Funeral services for Pearl will be held, at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, January 17, 2025, at the Robinson Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be held in the Spirit Lake Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Arrangements are under the direction of the Robinson Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be left at www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com
Pearl Elaine (Sangl) Jones was born on January 7, 1935, to Charley and Winifred (Hansen) Sangl in Spirit Lake, Iowa. She was raised in a small rural farm house where she enjoyed spending time outdoors with her siblings. We often heard stories about mischievous pranks she and her brother Don engaged in during their childhood. Pearl could be found participating in “daring” activities on the farm such as climbing across the barn rafters. She loved riding her bike and would frequently ride for miles to visit neighbors and sell flower seeds & magazines for the school fundraisers.
She started school in the little country schoolhouse not far from her home which was built on land donated by her Grandma Emma Sangl. Her Grandma Sangl lived on her route to school and she would stop in for a visit regularly with her and Aunt Sophie. These two ladies were very special to Pearl and taught her the art of crocheting with no pattern required. Her summer vacations often included a train trip to Des Moines, Iowa, to spend time with her Grandma & Grandpa Hansen. Pearl finished her education at the Sioux Valley High School where she graduated in 1952. She was united in marriage to Wesley Jones on January 18, 1953, in the Spirit Lake United Methodist Church.
On the farm, Pearl helped with the field work, milked cows, raised chickens and pigs, managed the family household, was a talented baker, and cooked three homemade meals a day, with her most sought after dish being her fried chicken. Pearl was also a great seamstress, she sewed most of the children’s clothes while they were growing up, and even tackled some women’s suits. One of Pearl’s special talents was her ability to make and create crafts, by picking up ideas from craft shows and then making her own original creations. Due to Pearl’s love for homemaking and crafts she was a long-time member of the Jackson County Home Project Extension Group where she later was awarded the Rural Homemaker of the Year in 1996 and received an all expenses paid trip to the Twin Cities. In Pearl’s own words to receiving this award, she said “I just enjoy people and have been content with my home-and-hearth role through the years. I wouldn’t be happy doing anything else!” She also served as chairperson for her local township group, the Minnesota Marvels, and also the vice president and president of the County Home Project Council. She was a long time member of the Sioux Valley Garden Club and later took the position of president. She was also on the board as treasurer and secretary of the Jackson County Historical Museum.
Some of Pearl’s favorite hobbies included crafts, crocheting doilies, vegetable and flower gardening, hunting critters, and fishing. She loved old country western music, and idolized Elvis Presley, whom she was proud to be born one day apart from. Pearl said “There wasn’t much I was afraid to try, and I always liked a challenge.” One of her greatest joys was her family, whom she loved all so dearly.
She was blessed with seven children and left to cherish her memory are, Deborah (Ray) Salzwedel of Windom, MN; Nancy (Bob) Bass of Jackson, MN; Bonnie Johnson of Lakefield, MN; Julie (Tim) Smith of Paynesville, MN; Keith (Rebecca) Jones of Lakefield, MN; June (Kevin) Kellner of Windom, MN; and Wesley Jon (Dawn) Jones of Granger, IA; 15 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and her sister, Marie Rippetoe of Idaho.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Wesley, grandson Justin Johnson, grandson Kyle Bass, and her son-in-law, Kenny Johnson.
