Arlene Vernette Paulson

Arlene Vernette (Tollefson) Paulson, age 89, of Lake Oswego, OR, formerly of Fergus Falls, passed away in her sleep in to the hands of Jesus early Tuesday morning September 20, 2016, in Oregon.

Arlene was born in Fergus Falls on December 9, 1926, to Bernard and Mabel (Evavold) Tollefson. She graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1944 and the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis in 1946. She also attended Augsburg College in Minneapolis for two years. She worked at Otter Tail Power Company in Fergus Falls in the Mid-40s and when she moved to Minneapolis she worked for Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota. While going to school she was a church secretary for several Lutheran churches, including the President of the Lutheran Free Church, Dr. Burntvedt. Arlene was also a church secretary at Denny Park Lutheran Church in Seattle, WA, in the Mid-50s, while her cousin Otto Tollefson was an interim Pastor there.

Arlene met her future husband, Charles R. Paulson, at an adult Luther League gathering at Bethany Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. They were married there on August 25, 1956. She continued as a church secretary for Charles at several of the churches where he was Pastor. Arlene enjoyed singing and was a soloist on many occasions in her early life. She enjoyed gardening, reading, and taking pictures of her many travels. Two special trips were to the Holy Land, Petra, and Egypt in February of 1980. In the summer of 1983, she took a five-week trip to Europe with Charles and their daughter Susan, which included Italy, France, England, and Norway, while their son John was stationed in Germany. She was also an avid sports fan and always enjoyed watching TimberWolves, Twins and Vikings games.

Arlene was a wonderful, compassionate Christian, a loving wife and mother. Arlene and Charles celebrated their 60th Wedding anniversary on August 25, 2016. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her brother, Walter Tollefson.
She is survived by her husband of sixty years, Reverend Charles Paulson; two sons and one daughter; their spouses; and three grandchildren; LTC (ret) John Paulson (Janet), daughter, Julie, and son, CPT John Paulson (Kirsten); Mark Paulson (Sonoko); and Susan and her daughter Sophie; her sister, Connie (Norman) Anderson; her two brothers, Duane (Kay) Tollefson and Lyle (Diane) Tollefson; and her sister-in-law, Kathryn Tollefson.

Visitation: 10:00-11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 24, 2016, at the Olson Funeral Home
Service: 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at the Olson Funeral Home Chapel
Clergy: Reverend Donald McKee
Burial: Oak Grove Cemetery in Fergus Falls, MN
Arrangements provided by Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, MN