Fern Paulson

Fern was born on December 21, 1924 to Henry and Martha (Haven) Kohlman in Appleton, MN.  She was the youngest of five children.  She was baptized and confirmed as well as a long-time member of Immanuel Lutheran Church-Shible Township, rural Appleton.  She grew up on her parent’s farm in Hegbert Township.  She attended country school district 35 in Swift County through the 8th grade, and then transferred to Appleton High School.  During high school, she was employed at Wold’s Service Station and Doege’s Bakery.

She graduated high school in 1944 and was employed as the telephone operator for Northwestern Bell in Appleton for 9 years.  In 1946, she married Elmer Paulson, who operated the Mobile Service Station.  In 1953, they purchased a farm north of Appleton.  In 1968, Fern moved to Willmar where she was employed at Jennie-O Foods as a receptionist and switchboard operator until her retirement in 1992.

After leaving Jennie-O, Fern moved to the Bethel Manor in Alexandria to be near her mother who was at Bethany Nursing Home.  She worked as a volunteer in the office of Pastor Dan Christ at Bethany Home until March of 2000, but continued to work as a volunteer in many areas of Bethel Manor and Bethany Home.  She finally threw her alarm clock in the garbage can and truly “retired” in 2007.  She then spent her time making fantastic counted cross stitch crib quilts for her grand and great-grandchildren.  She kept quite busy, joining fellow residents on bus trips, working jigsaw puzzles, gathering in the Manor Coffee Shop, and playing Bunco twice a week.

Fern is survived by her daughter, Valerie (Bob) Jerzak of Miltona; son, Gary (Cori) Paulson of Apple Valley; sister-in-law, Eileen Kohlman of Appleton; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Mable Anderson and Esther Olson; brothers, Edwin “Shorty” Kohlman and Arthur “Sonny” Kohlman.  Blessed be the memory of Fern Paulson.