Russell Monroe Paulson was born October 2, 1946 in the old Akron Hospital Akron, Iowa to Lee and Agnes (Jacobs) Paulson. He died September 3, 2020 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 73 years, 11 months and 1 day.

Russell was the youngest of four children and raised on a farm near Alcester. Russell was a life-long resident of Alcester. He attended the Finn country school until 7 ^th grade before his family moved into town. Russell graduated from Alcester High School in 1964. He was baptized and confirmed in Nathanael Lutheran Church. Russell ran the Alcester pool hall for a short period of time, worked as a carpenter and built grain bins before he was employed with the Union County Highway Department as a heavy equipment operator. He worked for the Union County Highway Department for nearly 50 years. Russell retired in October of 2017.

Russell married Clarice Price November 12, 1977 at Brule Creek Lutheran Church rural Elk Point, South Dakota. To this marriage two sons were born, John and Kyle.

Russell was a 31-year member of the Alcester Volunteer Fire Department, a life member of the VFW Auxiliary and an avid bowler. He regularly bowled on multiple bowling teams over the last 55 years. Russell loved spending time with all of his family and driving around his restored father-in-law's 1956 Ford pickup. Russell was an active member of the Brule Creek Lutheran Church for over 40 years. He was a choir member, council member for numerous years and the president of the cemetery board. Russell was proud of his Norwegian and German heritage by his love of pickled fish and polka music.

Grateful for sharing his life is his wife of 42 years, Clarice; his two sons, John Paulson and wife, Kendra, of Madison, SD and Kyle Paulson and wife, Jessy, of Norway Center, SD; six grandchildren, Aleigha, Charleanna, Conrad, Atley, Melia and Renn; his sister-in-law, Lois Halverson and husband, Ernie, of Vermillion, SD; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and their wives, Ronnie (Donna) Paulson and Roger (Janice) Paulson; and his sister, Joyce McKee Walstrom Putnam McShane.

Funeral services will be a private family service at Brule Creek Lutheran Church, Spink, SD with private burial to follow at Ahlsborg Cemetery, rural Spink. Visitation will be 4:00pm – 7:00pm Tuesday September 8, 2020 at Wass Funeral Chapel in Alcester. With COVID-19 precautions please practice social distancing and wear a mask.