Raymond Paulson
Dec. 4, 1929 – Sept. 16, 2022
Raymond Alva Paulson
was born on December 4,
1929, to Bernt O. and
Kirsta (Sjoberg) Paulson
and grew up on the family
farm in Crosby, ND. He
was a 1948 Valedictorian
graduate of Crosby High
School where he played
football and served as vice
president and secretary of
his class, as well as year-
book editor. He went on
to the University of North
Dakota where he earned a
Bachelor of Science de-
gree in Education. In
1952, before graduating,
he enlisted in the United
States Air Force, was sta-
tioned in Spokane, WA
and served in Korea until
his honorable discharge in
April, 1956.
On December 26,1952,
Ray married his best
friend and high school
sweetheart, Katheryn El-
len McNeal. Tragically, he
was widowed after his
wife passed away in a car
accident in May 1975.
Ray’s teaching career
began in Clearbrook, MN
and later in Bagley, MN.
In 1958, he began his 29
year-long career at Rugby
High School in Rugby, ND
as a Mathematics and
Building Trades teacher.
As a teacher, he not only
taught academics, he also
promoted a sense of in-
tegrity and commitment
that provided his students
with essential life-long
skills and helped them to
excel.
Favorite pastimes in-
cluded fishing, especially
his fishing trips to Canada
with the guys, photogra-
phy, skiing, and building.
He built homes with the
precision you would ex-
pect from a perfectionistic
math teacher. Never
quickly, but always to
perfection.
In December 1992, Ray
suffered a stroke that left
him paralyzed on his right
side. This did not stop
him from accomplishing
his house
building/carpentry
dreams. His perseverance
(aka stubbornness) and in-
genuity served him well.
His chosen quote (by
French novelist HonorÈ
de Balzac) for his high
school graduation served
him well throughout his
life, “All human power is
a compound of time and
patience.”
Ray enjoyed traveling
and in 2010 he fulfilled a
lifelong dream when he
and his four daughters
visited his parent’s home-
land of Norway.
Raymond passed away
on Friday, September 16,
2022, at Bethany on the
Lake in Alexandria at the
age of 92. He is survived
by his four daughters:
Karen (Merlin) Thykeson,
Hayden, ID; Dianne (Jay)
Heath, Oak Grove, MN;
Donna (Bill) Buckner,
Alexandria, MN; and
Renae Paulson, Fargo,
ND; four grandchildren,
Aaron Thykeson. Jessica
Trygstad, Steven Buckner,
and Abbigayle Benjamin;
and five great grandchil-
dren, Osten, Anders,
Oline, and Arvid
Trygstad, and James Gor-
don; nieces, Rosalie Ran-
dall, Marian Cinimo,
Roberta Hahn, Clair
Evans, and Frances Swett.
Ray was preceded in
death by his wife, parents,
and siblings, Alf Paulson,
Betsy Beer, Arvid Paul-
son, and Helen Hahn,
granddaughter, Christina
Buckner, and nephew,
Raymond Beer.
The family would like
to thank the staff at Peli-
can Bay for the special
thoughtfulness and care
they provided their father
throughout his stay.
A memorial service will
be held at Shalom Luth-
eran Church in Alexan-
dria, MN on Thursday,
September 29, 2022 at
11:00 am with visitation
one hour prior to the
memorial service. Inter-
ment will be held at Con-
cordia Lutheran Cemetery
in Crosby, ND.
In lieu of flowers,
memorials are preferred
to Shalom Lutheran
Church, First Lutheran in
Rugby, ND, Concordia
Lutheran in Crosby, ND,
Habitat for Humanity, or
Salvation Army.
Arrangements are with
the Anderson Funeral
Home and Crematory in
Alexandria, MN.
www.andersonfuneral.net