Memorial services for Allen C. Paulson will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at United Methodist Church in Ellendale. The Rev. Randy Cirksena will officiate. Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. prior to the service at church.

Allen was born Dec. 14, 1937, to parents Ivan and Mabel (Nelson) Paulson in Bath Township, Freeborn County. He was raised in Clarks Grove and attended Clarks Grove Baptist Church. Allen graduated in 1955 from Albert Lea High School.

On April 7, 1962, Allen married Mildred E. Crabtree at United Methodist Church in Ellendale. Together, they raised three children. 

After graduation, Al went to Hanson Auto trade school in Fargo, North Dakota, and returned home to work with his family to haul milk for Clarks Grove Creamery. He then went on to Mankato State University, earning his bachelor’s degree in education in 1970. He taught industrial arts in Elkton for two years before purchasing Our Own Hardware store in Ellendale, which he ran until 1978. After selling the store, Al moved his family to Aitkin where he ran his own trucking business and later worked as a cashier at Grand Casino. In 1995 Al and Millie moved back to Ellendale where he worked as a truck driver for various local firms and as a bus driver for the NRHEG school district.

In his younger years, Al was on the Ellendale Fire Department and EMT squad. He was a member of Ellendale Lions Club, Clarks Grove Heritage Society and Ellendale United Methodist Church. He and Millie were members of Grapevine Twist Square Dance Club in Albert Lea for many years, as well. Al’s favorite pastimes included gardening, woodworking, metalworking and he was an avid reader.

Allen C. Paulson passed away peacefully Friday, Nov. 25, 2016, surrounded by his family at Owatonna Hospital. He was 78.

He will be greatly missed by his wife, Millie; sons Peter (Stephanie Kibler) Paulson and Parke (Sharon) Paulson; 11 grandchildren; sister, Marlene Otterson; sisters-in- law and brothers-in-law Shirley Paulson, Allie Larson, Becky Larson, Kathy and Jeff Wayne, and Bob and Leah Crabtree; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Al was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Peggy Paulson-Radjenovich; brother, Jim Paulson; brothers-in-law Rolf Otterson, Dennis Larson and Allen Larson; and two nephews.