Glenn Paulson

Glenn Paulson died peacefully with his son and daughter at his side on May 5, 2025 at the age of 100. He was born on March 27, 1925 at his home in rural Grafton, ND. Glenn was the son of Haldan and Anna (Nilsson) Paulson.

Glenn attended school in Grafton, ND and graduated from High School in 1943. He enjoyed playing his trombone in the school band and trained as a telegrapher at the Northern Pacific railroad depot.

Two weeks after graduation, Glenn was drafted into the US Navy during World War II. He attended boot camp training and radio operator service school in Farragut, Idaho. He was assigned to sea duty on a US Navy net tender, USS Anaqua AN-40, as a radio operator. His ship was based at Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska and at Ulithi in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific.

Glenn was discharged from the Navy on March 4, 1946. In June of that year, he went to work for the Great Northern Railroad as a relief agent-telegrapher, working temporary positions in many railroad stations in North Dakota and Minnesota. In November of 1949 he accepted a position as a telegrapher in Roseau, Minnesota.

While in Roseau, Glenn married Bernice Johnson on June 21, 1952. They and their four children left Roseau in 1963 for Fargo, ND where Glenn worked as a telegrapher in the Great Northern passenger station and later as a ticket agent for Burlington Northern and Amtrak until retiring in 1987.

Glenn played in several community bands including the Red River Valley Concert Band, El Zagal Imperials Big Band, Circus and German Bands as well as the Fargo Theatre Band. He was a long-time member of Elim Lutheran Church in Fargo. He liked to work on his family history, play golf with family and friends, and spend time with his family at their lake cabin near Vergas, MN. He liked spending time with his grandchildren and attended many of their activities. Glenn especially enjoyed attending Navy reunions throughout the country. He was an avid historian, and contributed many of his writings to the Navy net tender and railroad associations.

Glenn is survived by his daughter, Barbara (Gordy) Johnson in Omaha, NE; son, Don (Mary) Paulson in Mesa, AZ; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bernice; sons, James and Mark; his parents; and brothers, Norman and Wilmer.

Glenn was so appreciative of those who cared for him the last few years, making sure to keep track of their names and a little bit about them in his notebook. The family would like to express their thanks and appreciation to the many associates at Eventide Sheyenne Crossings, Bethany on University, and Hospice of the Red River Valley for their friendship and loving care.

The funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, May 9 at Hanson Runsvold Funeral Home in Fargo with visitation one hour before the service. Burial will be at the Riverside Cemetery in Fargo. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of the Red River Valley or the Bethany Foundation in Fargo.