Harriet M. Drury

HARRIET MARIE PEARSON DRURY was born to Harry Nels and Gena (Jorgensen-Bager) Pearson on June 25, 1922 in Foster County, North Dakota where she was raised on a farm and attended country school. After her graduation from Kensal High School in Kensal, North Dakota in 1939, she attended Mankato Commercial College in Mankato, Minnesota for one year. Upon completion of her education, she worked for Thompson Yards in Mankato for three years in the office. On October 4, 1944, she was united in marriage to Hayward Drury, in Kensal. Four children were born into the family. Following their marriage they settled in Madison, South Dakota, spent part of a year in St. Cloud, Minnesota and in 1950 moved to Pipestone, Minnesota. Here they owned and operated the Pipestone Shopper, Harriet's Print shop and also a gift shop. The business was in the front of the house on second street NE, the basement of the house, a store downtown and back to the basement of the house. Harriet sold the business in 1976, but continued to run the commercial printing until 1981 when she sold to Chuck Draper. She worked for Chuck part-time until the summer of 1998 when she retired to enjoy many things she had not had time to do. When her health failed to the point that she could not stay in her home, she spent some months in Good Samaritan home in Pipestone, then four months at St. John's Lutheran Home in Springfield, MN where she died January 22, 2014 at the age of 91 years, 6 months, and 27 days.

Over the years Harriet was busy with Hiawatha Club, the Dale Carnegie course which Jay and Harriet took one year, spending time in her garden, and reading. Harriet was a lifelong member of the Girl Scouts, she helped run the Pipestone Food Pantry, was editor of the Minnesota WCTU newsletter, and worked at the Pipestone County Historical Society. Each December she helped at 1st Lutheran 'Kaffe Ti' making lefse and sometimes wore her Danish costume, (the cap, vest, necklace and apron were made by Harriet's Aunt in Denmark). She was a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Kensal, North Dakota (where her parents were Legion members). Harriet enjoyed crocheting (each grandchild received an afghan for high school graduation), church and community service and especially travel. One of the most special trips was to her parents and grandparents home countries of Denmark and Sweden where she met her uncle's wife in Denmark and many cousins in Sweden.

She is lovingly remembered by her four children, Gay Lynn (Jim) Murphy, Hayward Ellsworth 'Jay' (Cindi) Drury, James Roger (Sue) Drury and David John (LynDea) Drury; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and special friend, Harold Totman. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, husband, Hayward, and two grandchildren.