Lloyd W. Paulson

Lloyd W. Paulson, Moorhead, MN, passed away peacefully in his home Sunday May 27, 2018, surrounded by his family.

Lloyd Walter Paulson was born August 28, 1924 to Esther E. and Carl A. Paulson in their farmhouse west of Parkers Prairie, Minnesota, on the same dining room table on which his mother was born. Second of five children, Lloyd was baptized and confirmed at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Parkers Prairie. He attended rural School District 50 for seven years, then attended School District 547 in Parkers Prairie. He liked to share that in 1942, he was "eleventh in his graduating class", pausing to add, "… a class of nineteen". His family often used a horse-drawn sleigh to get to church services during the winter. Lloyd farmed with horses and early tractors and welcomed electricity when it arrived at their family farm in 1936.

Lloyd worked for Sundberg Apiaries in Fergus Falls, MN, until he entered military service February 1945. Trained for the planned invasion of Japan, he instead served at Army Headquarters in Manila, Philippines, until his discharge December 1946, with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Beverly M. Gerhardson and Lloyd were married September 2, 1951 at Augustana Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, MN. They lived in Fargo, ND; Wheaton, MN; and from 1962 on, in Moorhead, MN. They had two children, Corla "CoCo" and Robert. As a family, they enjoyed the outdoors, especially their week-long camping/canoeing trip each August.

Scheels hired Lloyd as a hardware salesperson in May 1952, and he soon became a partner-manager. He served on their Executive Committee, retiring from Scheels in January 1980.

Community activities were important to Lloyd and Beverly. They were Founders of Dollars for Scholars chapters in Moorhead, Fergus Falls, and Parkers Prairie, MN, and assisted in founding chapters in other communities and states. He was a Board member of the Clay County Historical Society, serving as their volunteer Executive Director when the Hjemkomst Center was built. He delivered Meals on Wheels and volunteered with many local charities.

Lloyd was a very active member of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd and their Helping Hands men's group. He was a member of Wheaton Lions, and since 1969, Moorhead Kiwanis.

Lloyd and Beverly were supporters of dozens of local charities and youth organizations; many projects in his beloved hometown of Parkers Prairie; Youth and Family Services and Rural America Initiatives in Rapid City, SD; Custer State Park, SD; The Nature Conservancy; God's Child; and Becas Especiales, a Guatemalan charity facilitated by his granddaughter that provides scholarships for poor children to continue their education. Together they inspired a philanthropic passion in their children and grandchildren. Lloyd was honored as South Dakota's 2013 Philanthropist of the Year by Governor Dennis Daugaard.

Red River floods were survived with the help of countless friends and relatives at their treasured river-front home. Named "The Last Man Standing" in a newspaper headline, Lloyd became the only river-side resident within sight on Rivershore Drive.

Lloyd and Beverly, a genealogist, traveled to Norway and Sweden four times, locating their families' original home sites. They traveled extensively throughout the United States and many countries. Visits with family and friends were especially treasured.

Lloyd is survived by his daughter Corla "CoCo" Paulson of Moorhead, MN; son Bob (Cyd) Paulson of Rapid City, SD; grandchildren Monica (Greg) Priebe of Enumclaw, WA, and Mark (Audrey) Paulson of Absarokee, MT; great-grandsons Soren and Axel Priebe; brother Vern (Neva) Paulson; sister Florance Voge; sisters-in-law Doris Paulson, Shirley Gerhardson, and Kathy (John) Hanson; brothers-in-law Jim Gerhardson, John (Marge) Gerhardson, and Lester Kiphuth.

Married for 58 years, Beverly passed away April 7, 2009 at the age of 79 years. Lloyd was also preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Esther Paulson; brothers Leonard and Harry; brothers-in-law Earl Wardien, Alan Voge, Duffy Gerhardson, Henry Gerhardson, Gordy Gerhardson, Philip Gerhardson, and Eric Gerhardson; and sister-in-law Linda Kiphuth.

Memorials may be given in honor of Lloyd to the donor's choice.

Casket bearers are the Helping Hands of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.

Visitation: Thursday, June 21, 2018, 5 to 7 PM, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Moorhead.

Funeral Service: Friday, June 22, 2018, at 11 AM, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Moorhead.

Burial: Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Moorhead.

Memorial Service: Saturday, June 23, 2018, at 10:30 AM, First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Parkers Prairie.