Pearl Rosebud Watson

1926 - 2025

Pearl Rosebud Watson passed away peacefully at the Fairbanks Pioneer Home on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, at the age of 99 years. Pearl was born on Jan. 20, 1926, the first child of Ethiel Kenneth Grant and Elsie Tillie (Lang) Grant, in Golden Valley, North Dakota. She described her parents as the most wonderful parents a child could ever have, and said the same of her childhood years. So, it is no surprise that she will always be remembered by her surviving family as a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother.
Her adventurous spirit drew her to Alaska with her first husband, David Holbrook, with whom she shared a daughter, Pamela. Her dreams and aspirations paved the way for settling in Fairbanks, and she began raising two more daughters (Patricia and Judy) and her first son (Michael) with her second husband, Clyde Harvie. Several years later, two more sons (Rodney and Gregory) blessed her life along with her third husband, Ove Selid.
Pearl and Ove built a large, beautiful home off of Airport Way in the Taku Subdivision, where she kept the most gorgeous yard filled with flowers and a large vegetable garden. Here she prepared unforgettable meals, especially on the holidays, and hosted many large parties including the Pioneer Mug-Up, birthdays and weddings. All her children and grandchildren treasure memories of the magical holiday gatherings in her home.
She was most proud of her family and cherished them above all, but she also took pride in completing her associates degree at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and her many years of working at the Tanana Valley Fair in the flowers division. Over her 70 plus years in Alaska, she was active in the Junior Women's Club, the St. Joseph's Hospital Women's Auxiliary, the Interior Sourdoughs, the Pioneers of Alaska, and the Elks. She was also active with her church family at Denali Bible Chapel, sharing many homemade cookies with as many children there as she possibly could. In 2015, she was appointed as the City of Fairbanks Hostess by then-Mayor John Eberhart, a job for which she had the greatest enthusiasm and which brought her immense joy.
Pearl was predeceased by her parents, Ethiel and Elsie Grant; her younger sister, Jeannette; and by her daughters, Pamela (Holbrook) and Judy (Harvie); and son, Rodney (Selid).
She is survived by her daughter, Patricia (Joseph) Reagin; son, Michael (Jayne) Harvie; son, Gregory Selid; granddaughter, Sharayah Selid, whom she raised after the death of her parents; as well as her many cherished and beloved grandchildren on whom she lavished all her love every chance she had; along with her great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to extend its heartfelt thanks to her Denali Bible Chapel church family, Fairbanks Resource Agency, the Emergency Care, ICU, and Hospice staff of Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, and the amazing staff of the Fairbanks Pioneer Home.
In lieu of flowers, please consider spending some time with the many wonderful seniors in our Fairbanks community. A private burial took place on Sept. 4 at Birch Hill Cemetery with Chapel of Chimes handling the arrangements. A memorial gathering to celebrate Pearl's life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, at Denali Bible Chapel 1201 Lathrop St. in Fairbanks.