John Ronald Paulson, Sr. was born on November 2, 1943 to Paul and Gertrude Paulson of Britt, Iowa.

On November 30, 1963, he married the love of his life, Janet Kay Curley.

Since the time he could 'hold a pitchfork,' which happens early on farms, John started working. The move to North Dakota was a result of his work, actually: John worked for a custom combining operation run by Bob Holland. He and his wife of nine years lived in Iowa at that time, but when they saw North Dakota on the custom combining journey, they fell in love with our beautiful state and moved north!

John was then offered a job at Skogen Farms working for Melvin and Ardell Skogen (later, for Allan and Janelle Skogen as the farm was passed down the generations). He loved what he did and never quit until he was done with a field for the night. He worked for the Skogens for close to 17 years.

After working with his close friend Ron Davies doing payloader work and grading township roads, he then got a job at VCSU in the student center as a night custodian, his wife working at the college also. Shortly after that, the groundskeeper position opened up and that was John's dream job! He kept campus beautiful for 23 years until he and his wife Jan both retired. He could never sit idle, so after retirement, he worked at Epworth United Methodist Church as the janitor and later in the same position at Bridgeview Estates.

John was a leader for the Hobart Hustlers (the boys' club that combined with the Hobart Honeydews to create the Hobart 4-H club) for over 18 years. He was instrumental in getting the premium sale started in Barnes County, which still happens to this day during 4-H Achievement Days. He was also on the Hobart township board for over 25 years.

His hobbies included collecting John Deere tractors, flower and vegetable gardening on a LARGE scale, collecting rocks, and woodworking. He could truly make anything. He enjoyed spending time with his family and his grandchildren. John was a grandfather with a young heart, and so the mischief that the grandkids got into at Grandpa's house was often his idea!

Most of all, he enjoyed time spent with his 'other half,' as he so frequently called his wife, Jan.

He was friendly, loving, hard-working; a friend to many, and a devoted husband, father and Papa. He will be greatly missed by all.

John died at Mercy Hospital on September 27, 2021 surrounded by his loved ones and the amazing nurses of second floor. He is survived by two sons:  John (Kelly) Paulson, Glyndon, MN and Shawn (Teresa) Paulson, Moorhead, MN; two daughters: Holly (Micheal) Olauson of Valley City and Louetta (David) Hanson of Wilmington, NC. Grandchildren, John (Jess) Paulson, Michael (Cassie) Bengson, Alyssa (John) Burger, Dallas, Austen, Brandon and Shawna Paulson, Jacob (Kiersten) Olauson, Chelsey (Austin) Schaefer, Braeden Olauson, Hope and Jaden Hanson.   His brother Roger (Lynn) Paulson of Mokelumme Hill, CA, and numerous nieces and nephews.  Three great grandchildren, Elsa Paulson, Gracie Bengson, Grace Olauson and one more to be born in January.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife of 47 years, and a sister, Maxine Hernandez.

The funeral service for John will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, October 2, 2021 at Epworth United Methodist Church, Valley City.  Visitation will be at the church on Friday from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a prayer service beginning at 7:00.  John will be laid to rest at Nebo/Faith Cemetery, rural Valley City.  The funeral service will be live streamed then archived along with his obituary at www.lerudschuldt.com , where you may also sign his online guestbook.

The Lerud Mathias Funeral Home is assisting John's family with arrangements.