Vernette Helen Pearson Karlsgodt

Vernette Helen Pearson Karlsgodt passed away peacefully at her home in Jamul on the morning of Sunday, April 22, 2012. She was 94 and enjoyed the loving visits, calls and gifts from her entire family before she left us. She was an enduring foundation and loving support for all.

An amazing woman, Vernette had many roles as daughter, wife, mother, professional, volunteer, grandmother, great-grandmother, cousin, aunt and friend. “Elegant” was often used to describe her. She was as comfortable cooking on a wood stove and lighting a kerosene lamp as she was attending a dental auxiliary function or the opera. She golfed, drove boats, water-skied and was one of the few, if not only, “cannon balling grandmas.” She was rarely seen without a “pressed” blouse and beautiful shoes, even at home. Vernette was an avid reader, loved her “story” on TV, a Stoly with a twist, spoke Spanish and Swedish, and traveled many times to Mexico and Europe. She was strong, wise and humorous. She was all of these to the end.

Vernette was born in the Sunshine Hospital on Park Boulevard in San Diego on Oct. 2, 1917. Her parents, Pear and Helen (Dahlquist) Pearson, were immigrants to this country from Sweden and Finland. Vernette’s father Pear had a successful contracting business in San Diego and she was often found, as a young girl, helping her dad on a home site, holding the measuring tape or sizing up lumber.

Vernette was a San Diego native and went to McKinley School, Roosevelt Jr. High, and graduated San Diego High School, Class of 1936. She was one of two young women who received athletic letters there. Vernette begged her father to go to college and studied business at San Diego State College. But she longed for more, and was accepted into the College of Dentistry at USC in Los Angeles to study dental hygiene. She was a member of the Alpha Kappa Gamma Sorority. She graduated first in her class in 1939, but did not reveal this to her parents until she stepped up and delivered the valedictory speech that day.

Vernette worked as a hygienist in the San Diego area prior to meeting her husband, Erling Karlsgodt, on a blind date in 1945. He was a dashing Navy Lieutenant from Montana, stationed at Coronado, in the Naval Dental Corps. He was Scandinavian like her. Vernette and Erling married only three months after they met and enjoyed 63 years together. Vernette worked as a hygienist in her husband’s dental office for many years. She took no pay for this, and did so, as many things in life, “for the good of the cause.” Beautiful homes in California, Baja and Little Bull Island in Montana were fashioned with love by her for her family.

A lifelong Lutheran and member of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, she was always confident that one would find the right path on his or her own, with the Lord’s guidance. But she was truly the solid supporting foundation of our family and will be greatly missed.

Vernette is survived by son Kurt and wife Molly (San Diego), son Pear and wife Pat (La Mesa), daughter Kari (Koskinen) and husband Dan (Jamul). She leaves eight grandchildren: Katie, Stephen and wife Carmen, Nathan, Adam and wife Kela, Ryan, Kevin, Kaarina and Klara. John Erling Karlsgodt, her great-grandson, was a true joy in the last months. Dear friends and extended family in California, Montana and Sweden survive her also.

Vernette will rest next to Erling at the Kenilworth Cemetery, Big Sandy, Mont. “Where the wind blows free.” Her life will be celebrated at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, La Mesa, on May 19 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Vernette’s name to Greater Polson Community Foundation, PO Box 314, Polson, MT 59860.