Pearce J. Tefft

Answer: Dad, Grandpa, Brother, Jeopardy and culinary enthusiast, golfer and baseball lover, Lions and Bison superfan, reader, and chess player.

Question: Who is Pearce Jerome Tefft? He’s a man who lived a spiritual life full of discipline and gratefulness, especially for his children. With sincerity in his prayers, he was a devout Catholic and an active member of Holy Spirit Church.

Pearce served in the Air Force for 6 years and when stationed in Minot, ND he met Susan Wilcox. The two had a whirlwind romance, quickly married in 1969, and went on to have three children. Pearce later married Marjorie Menart in 1984, while living in Fargo and attending NDSU and they also had three children.

With a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication, Pearce enjoyed public speaking and did so for years with Toastmasters and the Knights of Columbus, where he was a 4th degree Knight. As an accomplished speechwriter and with an interest in politics, he wrote speeches for candidates and even ventured into journalism.

Pearce Jerome Tefft, age 75, passed away peacefully in his sleep at SMP-St. Catherine North Nursing Home on November 20, 2023. Pearce was born June 12, 1948, to Elizabeth and Glee Tefft in El Paso, TX. He is one of eight siblings. He was a worldly man with travels across the United States starting as a child with his dad in the military and continuing his love of travel to the very end.

Pearce and his family want to thank the doctors, nurses, hospice, and all healthcare staff who cared for him. Without today’s modern medicine, he no doubt would’ve had a much shorter life, so with our sincere gratitude, we thank every one of those heroes.

Pearce is survived by his brother, Paul Tefft; sisters, Paige Anderson & Patience Woodill; along with his six children, Philip (Laura) Tefft, Donna (Patrick) Braun, Shelly (Scott) Tefft, Peggy (Matthew) Goodman, Catherine (Danielle) Tefft, & Peter Menart Tefft; and seven grandchildren, Elia Jay Scott, Maria Sue Braun, JoAnna Michelle Braun, Julia Isabella Tefft, Austyn Matthew Goodman, Ayden Matthew Goodman, & Florence Walker Tefft.