Pearl Ross Zilsdorf, 91, Dickinson, ND, died Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2007 at St. Joseph’s Hospital & Health Center, Dickinson. Pearl’s funeral service will be at 10 A.M., Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007 at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Dickinson with Rev. Steven Tangen officiating. Interment will take place at 1 p.m., Saturday at the Medora Cemetery. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with the family present from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., to visit with friends, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.
Pearl Lucille Ross was born Sept. 23, 1916, the daughter of Lanson “Lant” and Mabel (Smith) Ross at their homestead near Oakdale, ND with Mary McGowan in attendance as midwife. In 1919, the Ross family moved to Killdeer where Pearl attended the first seven years of elementary school. When Lant was elected sheriff of Dunn County, the Ross’s moved to the upstairs of the old courthouse. Pearl graduated from the eighth grade at the Manning one-room rural school. After attending Killdeer High School for three years, she obtained a diploma from Campus High and a First Grade Elementary Certificate from Dickinson Normal School in 1934. Pearl began her teaching career in Pioneer School District in Dunn County at the age of 18.
Pearl married Clyde Zilsdorf from Halliday on June 13, 1936. Reverend George L. Holmquist performed the ceremony at the James Olijnyk home in Killdeer. Pearl continued to teach in rural schools of Dunn County until 1941 when she and Clyde took up residence in Seattle, WA during WWII. Daughters Leah and Lynette were born during those Seattle years.
In August of 1954, the Zilsdorfs bought the Walker Cabins in Medora and modernized them and added units and renamed the facility the Medora Motel. Pearl enrolled again at the Dickinson College/University by taking correspondence work, off-campus classes, summer sessions and finally earning her degree in 1960. At the same time Pearl took care of the motel business and taught four years in the Billings County schools. She also served as Billings County Superintendent of Schools.
In 1961, Pearl began teaching English at Hazen High School, retiring in 1986. In addition to her full-time teaching position, she organized and directed a very successful community education program for adults from 1976 until retirement.
Pearl was a charter member of the Medora Lutheran Church and remained an active member until her death. Often taking part as a mentor, she was consulted for advice in community and school affairs both in Hazen and Medora. Pearl was an avid reader of current events and liked to discuss them. Some of her best memories included domestic traveling and several trips to far away places including Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Pearl is survived by her daughters, Leah Calbreath, Dickinson, and Lynette (Gary) Adsit, Marion, IN; two granddaughters, Shana Calbreath and Alexis Adsit; three brothers, Donald (Maxine) Ross, Albert (Caroline) Ross, and Lanson Ross; and numerous nieces and nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by husband Clyde on November 21, 1991; her parents; two sisters, Mae Oukrop and Clara Lyons; and five brothers, John, James, Harold, Edward and David.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to the Medora Lutheran Church or to the Hazen High School Dollars for Scholars.
