50 Years, 50 Legacies: Mary Lou Pearson
#17: Mary Lou Pearson: Leading a Life of Teaching, Service, and Love
Born in Chicago in 1931, Mary Lou Pearson spent her childhood moving across Minnesota- from Duluth to International Falls- before graduating from International Falls High School where she met her future husband, Marvin Pearson. They got married in 1951, and after a short-lived adventure living in New Jersey, the couple returned to International Falls to run the family bakery. However, after 20 years Mary Lou felt called to a different career path: education.
Credit: Bemidji Pioneer
Determined to pursue her teaching degree, she drove nearly 200 miles daily to earn her teaching degree at Bemidji State University. That dedication paid off: she taught for nearly three decades at various schools in the International Falls region from elementary to college classes. Her passion for history, government, and economics earned her honors including the Bush Fellowship Leadership Award in 1975 and a spot among Minnesota’s top ten finalists for Teacher of the Year in 1996.
Mary Lou’s dedication to history and community extended far beyond the classroom. As historian for Voyageurs National Park, she played a vital role in preserving and sharing the park’s cultural legacy. Her work spanned museum curation, where she carefully preserved and interpreted artifacts that told the story of the region, to conducting more than 90 oral histories with local residents, Indigenous community members, and park staff – capturing voices and stories from the park’s early years that might otherwise have been lost. Mary Lou also led guided tours that brought the park’s rich history to life for visitors, connecting people to the land and its layered past. Her tireless commitment helped shape how both the park and the broader public understand the human history of this northern landscape, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire.
Mary Lou and Marvin raised two sons together, Scott and Rick. She loved reading and writing, walking her dog, and traveling. All characteristics that reflect her calling as a teacher. Deeply family-oriented, she moved to Bemidji in her later years to be closer to her children's families, where she passed away in 2021.
Though Mary Lou herself didn’t leave published reflections on her life, her achievements speak volumes. Her devotion to teaching, serving, and loving others in the community has woven a narrative of legacy rooted in engagement and lifelong learning – values that continue to shape the spirit of Voyageurs National Park. Through her work, Mary Lou helped ensure that the stories of this place and its people will be shared for generations to come.
Check out the full list of our 50 legacies!
This year, we’re celebrating 50 years of Voyageurs National Park by sharing 50 inspiring stories of the people who shaped its legacy. Years, 50 Legacies is a yearlong storytelling series highlighting individuals whose lives are woven into the fabric of the park – whether through conservation work, cultural traditions, recreation, research, or personal connection.
Raise a canteen and celebrate this historic milestone with us at our 50th anniversary website. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more inspiring stories and updates!
