Anton “Tony” Alexander Pearson, Jr.

Anton “Tony” Alexander Pearson, Jr. of St. Regis died peacefully Sept. 28, 2024, at 80 years of age with his devoted wife of 61 years by his side. 

He is survived by his wife, RoseAnne; children Anton “Swede” (Becky) Pearson; DeeAnne (Joe) Egan; Delle (Ross) Colahan; Evangeline “Vangie” (Jason) Peterson; his brother, Gabriel Pearson; 10 grandchildren; many nephews and nieces, and Pearson cousins. 

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, 1 p.m., at Chapel of the Valley in Harlan, Oregon. 

Anton was born Dec. 12, 1943, during World War II in Los Angeles to his mother, Ina, while his father, Anton Sr. was at sea on a Navy ship that just missed the attack on Pearl Harbor. The young post-war family made their home on a farm north of Conrad. 

Brother Gabriel was born in 1945. “Tony” attended eight grades at Pioneer School on Uncle Gunder’s farm as the only student in his grade. He grew up farming and hunting rattlesnakes, pheasants, deer and elk. After graduating from Conrad High School, he worked a year in the oil fields. 

In 1962, he enrolled in Evangel College, Springfield, Missouri, with a basketball-work scholarship. There he met RoseAnne Kessi from western Oregon, whom he married Oct. 26, 1963, at Chapel of the Valley in Harlan. A mile up Big Elk Creek from the church, they made their home, on part of the Kessi Sweet home Ranch, where they raised their family. They also raised cattle and horses. Tony enjoyed hunting, horse-packing, camping, fishing and playing with the kids. 

In 2000, Tony and RoseAnne moved to their permanent home on land they had purchased in 1970 and 1976 on St. Regis river and Little Joe Creek, west of St. Regis. There he had logged a lot, with the family living parts of several years in camper trailers, returning at Thanksgiving time to their Oregon home. Self-employed, Tony owned his trucks for 50 years, hauling logs, equipment, hay, canned goods, crushed cars and lumber. 

He refereed basketball for 27 years in Oregon. He always took his family to church. His children were his pride and joy. 

Tony experienced God’s definite protection many times, becoming very thankful for the saving grace of Jesus Christ and for the promise of eternal life with Him. 

“Redeemed in Christ Jesus,” will be engraved on Tony and RoseAnne’s joint headstone.