Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 27194
Title: Gerald L."Snook" Paulson
Date: 3/20/1938-10/29/2025
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 3/20/1938
Summary: Gerald L. Paulson passed away October 29, 2025. His funeral service was held November 7, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Carrington, ND. Burial was at the Carrington Cemetery. Gerald Leland "Snook" Paulson was born March 20, 1938, at the Neubson birthing home in Carrington, ND, to Alvin and Pearl (Wobbema) Paulson. Snook started school in Carrington and then spent part of his first and second grades in Jamestown, ND, while living in a foster home. He returned to Carrington for a couple of years, then spent 2 school years in San Leandro, CA, living with his stepmother, Judy, and her family. Snook graduated from CHS in 1956, where he was active in band, choir, Glee Club and Letterman’s Club. He was captain of the football team, student manager of the basketball team and was in track. He was athlete of the year in 1956 at CHS and was also homecoming king. During high school, Snook worked at Steve Wenaas’ Piggly Wiggly grocery store. He was also part of a roller-skating show that performed in the area. He played clarinet in a 10-piece band that played at area proms and at the Rainbow Gardens in Carrington. He served in the North Dakota National Guard with the 142nd Engineer Battalion. After graduation, Snook attended Valley City State College where he sang in the choir and was a member of the Tau Sig fraternity. He then attended NDSU and went back to Valley City to get his 2-year standard teaching certificate. In 1960 Snook started teaching in Tuttle, ND as a 6th grade teacher and junior high basketball coach. He finished his 4-year degree at Minot State University. Snook married Adelyne Louise Goldsmith on August 4, 1963. They moved to Carrington where Snook taught school for 33 years. He taught 7-8 grade math and science, coached junior high basketball, track and football. In the summers he worked for Ray and Roland Sharbono Construction, until he started a paint crew of teachers, P and P Painting. He also worked part time at the post office. During this time, he earned his master’s degree in education from UND. Adelyne died in 1979. Snook married Cathy Miller Hjelseth on May 28, 1983, in Carrington. Snook enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking, playing cards, music and being with family and friends. Snook and Cathy took many wonderful trips. They drove to the East Coast and to the West Coast, took an Alaskan and a Caribbean cruise, went to Ireland, Holland, Belgium, England, Scotland, Wales and Hawaii. Snook also enjoyed his annual ice fishing trip to Minnesota with his friends and boys. Opening deer weekend was like a holiday. In Snook’s retirement years he became a Christmas baker, making and selling krumkake, rosettes and spritz cookies. Snook was a charter member of the Carrington Lion’s Club and received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, their highest honor. He was on the Trinity Lutheran Church board, was a Jaycees member and played softball for the Shamrock Bar. He also played league bowling. Snook is survived by his wife, Cathy and by five sons, Eric (Mary Jo), Carrington, ND, Matt (Laura), Hawley, MN, Patrick (Nicole), Wahpeton, ND, Brian (Erin), Jamestown, ND, Nate Hjelseth (Leah), Waconia, MN; two daughters, Joan (Dave) Copenhaver, Carrington, and Sarah Hjelseth Schindler (Gary), Grand Forks, ND; sisters, Doris Workentine, Sturgis, SD, Denise (Danny) Schuchard, Carrington, ND, Darlene Porter, Jamestown, ND, Doris Storrs (Sam), Cohasset, MN; brothers, Holly Pond (Judy) Bowman, ND, David Edinger (Karen), Cheyenne, WY, Chuck Edinger, Jamestown, ND; mother-in-law, Joyce Miller, Carrington; brothers-in-law, Scott Miller, Carrington, Brent (Roxanne) Miller, Grand Forks, ND, Mark (Kari) Miller, Grand Forks, ND, Larry Goldsmith, Fredericksburg, VA; sisters-in-law, Joyce Paulson, Fargo, ND, Darlyne Stanczyk, Holly, MI; 28 grandchildren: Connor Arellano (Danny), LaMesa, CA, Justin Paulson (Carolyn) and their daughters, Adeline and Olive, Fridley, MN, Emilea Brewer (Jesse) and their daughter, Charlotte, Hendersonville, TN, Kirsten Pecka (Brad) and their children, Hudson, Aubrey, Grady and Evie, Ardoch, ND, Carly Pritchard (Caleb) and their daughter, Blakely, Pleasonton, NE, Jake Copenhaver, Fargo, ND, Trevor Paulson, Carrington, ND, Brett Paulson, Carrington, ND, Noah Paulson, Bismarck, ND and Jack Paulson, Grand Forks, ND, Megan Schreiner (Joe) and their children, Brynley and Emma, Sioux Falls, SD, Gabby Paulson, Fargo, ND and Abi Paulson, Wahpeton, ND, Annabelle, Cole, Ellie, Cooper, and Piper Paulson, Jamestown, ND, Will and Thomas Hjelseth, Waconia, MN, Mandi Afoa (Fale), and their children, Lola, Koa, Luana and Leilani, Clarksville, TN, Madison, Olivia, Grace, Alexa, James, Kennedy and Evelyn Schindler, Grand Forks., ND; and family friend, Tiffany Paulson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin Paulson and Pearl Edinger; stepmothers, Judy and Nora; wife, Adelyne Paulson; brother, Lyle Paulson; mother-in-law, Bonnie Goldsmith; fathers-in-law, Harold Goldsmith and Gary Miller; and brothers-in-law, Don Workentine and Bud (Elsie) Goldsmith.
Red ID: FND_I_79438 Image ID: 542366 Image Notes: FND001 27194

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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